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Female sterility in Ulmus minor (Ulmaceae): a hypothesis invoking the cost of sex in a clonal plant
Author(s) -
LópezAlmansa J. C.,
Pannell J. R.,
Gil L.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.3732/ajb.90.4.603
Subject(s) - biology , sterility , pollen , ulmaceae , gynoecium , botany , population , pollination , stamen , demography , sociology
A high incidence of individuals with low seed set was found in two populations of the field elm Ulmus minor , a European tree that reproduces sexually and via vegetative propagation through root sprouting. One population was a seminatural stand, while the other was established by artificial propagation of genotypes sampled widely across Spain. The low seed set in both populations was due to both pre‐ and post‐zygotic factors, the importance of which vary between genotypes. These factors included gynoecial malformations that produced a non‐ovulated pistil, early gynoecial necrosis (i.e., necrosis before any opportunities for pollination), and seed abortion. Female sterility gave rise to two classes of individuals: trees that were largely female‐sterile but dispersed normal quantities of viable pollen, and trees that dispersed both normal pollen and substantial numbers of seeds. Reduced production of protein‐rich seeds may increase the resource availability for clonal propagation, helping to maintain female‐sterile individuals with hermaphrodites.