Unisexual flowers as a resolution to intralocus sexual conflict in hermaphrodites.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_EBE2C54BCDE3
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Unisexual flowers as a resolution to intralocus sexual conflict in hermaphrodites.
Journal
Proceedings. Biological sciences
Author(s)
Chen K.H., Pannell J.R.
ISSN
1471-2954 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0962-8452
Publication state
Published
Issued date
29/11/2023
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
290
Number
2011
Pages
20232137
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
In dioecious populations, males and females may evolve different trait values to increase fitness through their respective sexual functions. Because hermaphrodites express both sexual functions, resolving sexual conflict is potentially more difficult for them. Here, we show that hermaphrodite plants can partially resolve sexual conflict by expressing different trait values in different male and female modules (e.g. different flowers, inflorescences, branches etc.). We analysed the flowering phenology, sex allocation and selection gradients on floral traits of flowers of the andromonoecious plant Pulsatilla alpina, which produces both bisexual and male flowers. Our results indicate that strong protogyny prevents early bisexual flowers from profiting from high siring opportunities early in the reproductive season at a time when male flowers could achieve high siring success. The production of unisexual male flowers thus resolves this sexual conflict because it allows the flowers to express their male function without waiting until after the female function has been performed. Our study illustrates the resolution of sexual conflict arising from phenological constraints via modular divergence in sex allocation. We discuss the extent to which modular variation in sex allocation in the context of other sexual systems may be similarly explained.
Keywords
Reproduction, Flowers, Inflorescence, Plants, Phenotype, androdioecy, dichogamy, monoecy, sex allocation, sexual antagonism, sexual interference
Pubmed
Funding(s)
Swiss National Science Foundation / Projects / 310030_185196
Create date
04/12/2023 15:44
Last modification date
08/12/2023 8:06
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