Asymmetrical crossing barriers in angiosperms

TLDR

Reproductive isolation patterns between species, including asymmetries in seed production and post‑zygotic stages caused by factors such as stigma/style length differences, self‑compatibility, fruit abortion, and nuclear‑cytoplasmic interactions, can illuminate the mechanisms and evolution of interspecific gene exchange barriers. The study used data from published interspecific hybridization experiments from 14 angiosperm genera to test for the presence of asymmetrical barriers to gene exchange. Reproductive isolation was examined at three life‑history stages—seed production, F1 hybrid viability, and F1 hybrid fertility—using data from these genera. Significant asymmetries in reproductive isolation were found across all 14 genera and at all three life‑history stages, implying that such asymmetry can influence hybrid zone dynamics, genetic introgression direction, and reinforcement probability.

Abstract

Patterns of reproductive isolation between species may provide insight into the mechanisms and evolution of barriers to interspecific gene exchange. We used data from published interspecific hybridization experiments from 14 genera of angiosperms in order to test for the presence of asymmetrical barriers to gene exchange. Reproductive isolation was examined at three life–history stages: the ability of interspecific crosses to produce seeds, the viability of F1 hybrids, and the fertility of F1 hybrids. Statistically significant asymmetries in the strength of reproductive isolation between species were detected in all genera and at each of the three life–history stages. Asymmetries in seed production may be caused by a variety of mechanisms including differences in stigma/style lengths, self compatibility and differential fruit abortion. Asymmetries in post–zygotic isolation are probably caused by nuclear—cytoplasmic interactions. Asymmetrical reproductive isolation between plant taxa may have important implications for the dynamics of hybrid zones, the direction of genetic introgression and the probability of reinforcement.