Abstract

These results suggest that pollen-tube growth rate can respond to selection via male function. The data presented here do not provide any support for the hypothesis that intense pollen competition enhances maternal plant fitness through increased paternity by higher-quality sporophytic fathers, although this advantage cannot be ruled out. These data are, however, consistent with the hypothesis that pollen competition is itself selectively advantageous, through both male and female function, by reducing the genetic load among successful gametophytic fathers (pollen), and reducing inbreeding depression associated with self-pollination in plants with mix-mating systems.

Keywords

Collinsia heterophylla; evolvability; female fitness; good genes; heritability; male fitness; mixed-mating system; Plantaginaceae; pollen competition; sexual selection

Published in

Annals of Botany
2009, volume: 103, number: 6, pages: 941-950
Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS

Authors' information