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Inheritance of chloroplast DNA is not strictly maternal in Silene vulgaris (Caryophyllaceae): evidence from experimental crosses and natural populations
Author(s) -
McCauley David E.,
Sundby Allyson K.,
Bailey Maia F.,
Welch Mark E.
Publication year - 2007
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.94.8.1333
Subject(s) - biology , chloroplast dna , non mendelian inheritance , genetics , pollen , context (archaeology) , rapd , evolutionary biology , population , botany , genome , mitochondrial dna , gene , genetic diversity , paleontology , demography , sociology
Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) is maternally inherited in the majority, but not all, of angiosperm species. The mode of inheritance of cpDNA is a critical determinant of its molecular evolution and of its population genetic structure. Here, we present the results of investigations of the inheritance of cpDNA in Silene vulgaris , a plant used in a variety of studies in which cpDNA is an important component. PCR/RFLP markers were used to compare mother and offspring cpDNA genotypes sampled from two natural populations, and mother, father, and offspring genotypes obtained from controlled greenhouse crosses. Ten of 215 offspring cpDNA genotypes studied in the controlled crosses and three of 156 offspring from natural populations did not match that of the mother, demonstrating rare nonmaternal inheritance. That the chloroplast genome is occasionally transmitted through pollen is discussed in the context of using S. vulgaris cpDNA as a marker in studies of seed dispersal and when considering the joint evolution of the chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes.