Abstract Detail

Ecology

Duncan, Matthew [1], Olson, Matt [2], Sanderson, Brian [3].

Sex ratio has different effects on multiple components of fitness in Silene vulgaris.

Gynodioecy is a form of plant breeding system where both female and hermaphroditic plants coexist in a population. This breeding system can lead to sex ratios where females greatly outnumber their hermaphrodite partners, which can result in low female fitness when pollen donors are not sufficiently common to pollinate all of the flowers produced by females. We tested whether sex ratio influenced seed production and germination rate by measuring these fitness components in experimental populations with sex ratios between 10% and 90% female. The field experiment spanned eight weeks and produced thousands of seeds. We used a stratified random sample to estimate differences in seed production and seed germination in the different experimental treatments. We found that S. vulgarisdid not exhibit negative frequency dependent fitness for seed production or seed germination, but it did exhibit negative frequency dependent fitness for fruit set. These patterns suggest that hermaphrodite frequency influences the probability that a flower is pollinated, but once pollinated, sufficient pollen is transferred for maximal seed set. These results will be interpreted with regard to theory regarding the selective factors influencing the maintenance of females and hermaphrodites in gynodioecious breeding systems.

1 - Texas Tech University, Biological Sciences, 2901 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
2 - Texas Tech University, Biological Sciences, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
3 - Purdue University, 915 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, United States

Keywords:
gynodioecy
pollination biology
sex ratio.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Ecology Posters
Location: Arizona Ballroom/Starr Pass
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2019
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 6:15 pm. The Poster Session runs from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Posters with odd poster numbers are presented at 5:30 pm, and posters with even poster numbers are presented at 6:15 pm.
Number: PEC024
Abstract ID:797
Candidate for Awards:Ecological Section Best Undergraduate Presentation Award