“I think she’s compensating for something!”
22
“I think she’s compensating for something!” A case of anther envy in the seemingly perfect world of Mimulus guttatus. Joceline V. Vu The University of Virginia Dr. Michael J. Wise Summer Research 2009 Blandy Experimental Farm
description
“I think she’s compensating for something!”. Joceline V. Vu The University of Virginia Dr. Michael J. Wise Summer Research 2009 Blandy Experimental Farm. A case of anther envy in the seemingly perfect world of Mimulus guttatus. Blandy Experimental Farm Boyce, VA. hermaphroditism. gynodioecy. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of “I think she’s compensating for something!”
“I think she’s compensating for something!”
A case of anther envy in the seemingly perfect world of Mimulus
guttatus.
Joceline V. VuThe University of Virginia
Dr. Michael J. Wise
Summer Research 2009Blandy Experimental Farm
Blandy Experimental FarmBoyce, VA
Breeding Systems in Plants
hermaphroditism dioecymonoecygynodioecy
?
male-sterility: reproductive costHow can females compensate in
a hermaphroditic population?
Problem of Interest
Hermaphrodite (perfect)
Male-Sterile (Female)
Questions
Compensating for reproductive costs
- Fecundity?
- Pollinator attraction?
Plant Performance Experiment
Pollinator Preference Experiment
Plant Performance Experiment
Methods1392 seedlings
611 from female lines
606 from perfect lines
316 295“sterile-sibling perfect”
593 13
Plant Performance Experiment
Corolla Width and
Length
Fruit Count
Ovule Count
Corolla Width and
Length
Fruit Count
Ovule Count
Corolla Width and
Length
Fruit Count
Ovule Count
Corolla Width
P = 0.01
Female Perfect
Cor
olla
wid
th (
mm
)
18.6
18.8
19.0
19.2
19.4
19.6
19.8
20.0p < 0.0001
Corolla Length
Female Perfect
Cor
olla
leng
th (
mm
)
18.9
19.0
19.1
19.2
19.3
19.4
19.5
19.6p = 0.01
Female flowers are larger than perfect
flowers
Females flower earlier than hermaphrodites
Female Perfect
Day
of
first
flo
wer
18.5
19.0
19.5
20.0
20.5
21.0
21.5
p = 0.03
Females produce more fruits and more
ovules/fruit
Female Perfect
Fru
its p
er p
lant
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
p < 0.0001
Female Perfect
Ovu
les
per
locu
le
260
280
300
320
340
360
p < 0.0001
Fruit Number Ovule Number
Summary: Plant PerformanceFemales have bigger flowers,
more fruits, and more ovules/fruit
Pollinator Preference
Pollinator Preference
Floral Display, Plant Visits, Flowers/Plant Visit
Ope
n flo
wer
s
0
10
20
30
40
50
Trial 1 Trial 3Trial 2
a
a
a
bb
b bbb
Female plants have a larger floral display
but…
Flo
wer
s vi
site
d
0
1
2
3
4
5
Trial 1 Trial 3Trial 2
aa
a
ba
bbab
Flower visits per plant visit is higher for perfect plants than
females
ab
Floral display affects flower visits per plant visit for
perfect flowers
Number of flowers0 20 40 60 80 100
Flo
wer
s pe
r pl
ant
visi
t
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Hermaphrodites:r = 0.30; p = 0.002
Females:r = 0.10; p = 0.35
Summary: Pollinator PreferenceBees visit all plants equally
Once on a hermaphrodite, they stay longer
Fertilization?
Inbreeding?
Conclusions
Can female plants compensate enough to compete in a perfect
world?
fecunditypollination
Acknowledgements
Questions?
