Premium
Natural hybridization and reproductive isolation between two Primula species
Author(s) -
Xie Yanping,
Zhu Xingfu,
Ma Yongpeng,
Zhao Jianli,
Li Li,
Li Qingjun
Publication year - 2017
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.12546
Subject(s) - reproductive isolation , primula , biology , sympatric speciation , introgression , hybrid , gene flow , interspecific hybridization , sympatry , hybrid zone , evolutionary biology , botany , zoology , genetics , gene , population , demography , sociology , genetic variation
Summary Natural hybridization frequently occurs in plants and can facilitate gene flow between species, possibly resulting in species refusion. However, various reproductive barriers block the formation of hybrids and maintain species integrity. Here, we conducted a field survey to examine natural hybridization and reproductive isolation (RI) between sympatric populations of Primula secundiflora and P. poissonii using ten nuclear simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci. Although introgressive hybridization occurred, species boundaries between P. secundiflora and P. poissonii were maintained through nearly complete reproductive isolation. These interfertile species provide an excellent model for studying the RI mechanisms and evolutionary forces that maintain species boundaries.