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Reproductive isolation between sympatric sister species, Mussaenda kwangtungensis and M. pubescens var. alba
Author(s) -
Luo Zhonglai,
Duan Tingting,
Yuan Shuai,
Chen Shi,
Bai Xiufeng,
Zhang Dianxiang
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of integrative plant biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.734
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1744-7909
pISSN - 1672-9072
DOI - 10.1111/jipb.12325
Subject(s) - biology , reproductive isolation , sympatric speciation , phylogenetic tree , botany , hybrid , interspecific competition , evolutionary biology , zoology , gene , genetics , population , sociology , demography
Reproductive isolation defines the biological species concept and plays a key role in the formation and maintenance of species. The relative contributions of different isolating stages has been suggested to be closely associated with phylogenetic relatedness. Few studies have focused on the relative contributions of pre‐ versus post‐zygotic mechanisms, and even fewer have been conducted under strict phylogenetic frameworks. Pre‐ and post‐zygotic reproductive isolation stages have been investigated in the sister species Mussaenda kwangtungensis and M. pubescens var. alba . The two species have partly overlapping distribution ranges and flowering times, while the principal pollinators differed strikingly for them, demonstrating strong pre‐zygotic isolations. Natural hybrids were detected by simple sequence repeat markers and their maternal parents were identified based on chloroplast gene sequences. Five out of 81 individuals were suggested to be hybrids that fall into the categories F2, BC1, and BC2 by the NewHybrids analysis. Interspecific crossings resulted in significantly reduced fruit set and seed germination rates. Phylogenetic analysis revealed short Kimura‐2‐parameter distance between M. kwangtungensis and M. pubescens var. alba . These findings strongly supported the hypothesis that for species with a closer phylogenetic relationship, pre‐zygotic isolation plays an important part in limiting gene exchange in sympatric areas.