Density-dependent regulation of the sex ratio in an annual plant.
Details
Serval ID
serval:BIB_527FA9A21F5F
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Density-dependent regulation of the sex ratio in an annual plant.
Journal
American Naturalist
ISSN
1537-5323 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0003-0147
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2008
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
171
Number
6
Pages
824-830
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Publication Status: ppublish
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
Sex ratios are subject to strong frequency-dependent selection regulated by the mating system and the relative male versus female investment. In androdioecious plant populations, where males co-occur with hermaphrodites, the sex ratio depends on the rate of self-fertilization by hermaphrodites and on the relative pollen production of males versus hermaphrodites. Here, we report evolutionary changes in the sex ratio from experimental mating arrays of the androdioecious plant Mercurialis annua. We found that the progeny sex ratio depended strongly on density, with fewer males in the progeny of plants grown under low density. This occurred in part because of a plastic adjustment in pollen production by hermaphrodites, which produced more pollen when grown at low density than at high density. Our results provide support for the prediction that environmental conditions govern sex ratios through their effects on the relative fertility of unisexual versus hermaphrodite individuals.
Keywords
Environment, Euphorbiaceae/physiology, Morocco, Portugal, Reproduction
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
14/09/2011 15:00
Last modification date
20/08/2019 14:07