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HERO ID
6947340
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Sex ratio and subdioecy in Fragaria virginiana: the roles of plasticity and gene flow examined
Author(s)
Spigler, RB; Ashman, TL; ,
Year
2011
Is Peer Reviewed?
1
Journal
New Phytologist
ISSN:
0028-646X
EISSN:
1469-8137
Publisher
WILEY
Location
HOBOKEN
Page Numbers
1058-1068
Language
English
PMID
21352233
DOI
10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03657.x
Web of Science Id
WOS:000290449600024
Abstract
Here we examined the roles of sex-differential plasticity (SDP) and gene flow in sex ratio evolution of subdioecious Fragaria virginiana. We assessed whether female frequency varied with resource availability in 17 natural populations and then characterized plasticity and mean investment in allocation to female function at flower and plant levels in the sex morphs in the glasshouse. We estimated patterns of population divergence using five microsatellite markers. We reveal SDP in fruit production substantial enough to translate into a higher equilibrium female frequency at low resources. Thus SDP can account, in part, for the strong negative relationship between female frequency and resources found in the field. Pollen-bearing morphs varied in plasticity across populations, and the degree of plasticity in fruit number was positively correlated with in situ variation in nitrogen (N) availability, suggesting an adaptive component to sex-allocation plasticity. Low neutral genetic differentiation, indicating high gene flow or recent divergence, may contribute to the absence of population differentiation in fruit-setting ability of pollen-bearing morphs despite considerable sex ratio variation. We consider how these processes, in addition to other features of this system, may work in concert to influence sex ratios and to hinder the evolution of dioecy in F. virginiana.
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