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Published byCaitlin Houston Modified over 9 years ago
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“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
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Blandy Experimental Farm Boyce, VA
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Breeding Systems in Plants hermaphroditism dioecy monoecy gynodioecy
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? male-sterility: reproductive cost How can females compensate in a hermaphroditic population? Problem of Interest
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Hermaphrodite (perfect) Male-Sterile (Female)
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Questions Compensating for reproductive costs -Fecundity? -Pollinator attraction? Plant Performance Experiment Pollinator Preference Experiment Plant Performance Experiment
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Methods 1392 seedlings 611 from female lines606 from perfect lines 316 295 “sterile-sibling perfect” 59313
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Plant Performance Experiment Corolla Width and Length Fruit Count Ovule Count Corolla Width and Length Fruit CountOvule Count Corolla Width and Length Fruit CountOvule Count
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Corolla Width P = 0.01 p < 0.0001 Corolla Length p = 0.01 Female flowers are larger than perfect flowers
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Females flower earlier than hermaphrodites p = 0.03
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Females produce more fruits and more ovules/fruit p < 0.0001 Fruit NumberOvule Number
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Summary: Plant Performance Females have bigger flowers, more fruits, and more ovules/fruit
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Pollinator Preference
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Floral Display, Plant Visits, Flowers/Plant Visit
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Trial 1Trial 3Trial 2 a a a b b b b b b Female plants have a larger floral display but…
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Trial 1Trial 3Trial 2 a a a b a b b ab Flower visits per plant visit is higher for perfect plants than females ab
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Floral display affects flower visits per plant visit for perfect flowers Hermaphrodites: r = 0.30; p = 0.002 Females: r = 0.10; p = 0.35
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Summary: Pollinator Preference Bees visit all plants equally Once on a hermaphrodite, they stay longer Fertilization? Inbreeding?
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Conclusions Can female plants compensate enough to compete in a perfect world? fecundity pollination
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Acknowledgements
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Questions?
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