Mating system in a neotropical tree species, Senna multijuga (Fabaceae)

Senna multijuga is a pioneer tropical tree species that occurs mainly in the Brazilian Atlantic forest. We investigated the mating system of two populations of S. multijuga, one located in a reserve area (RD1) and the other (RD2) about 15 km away. The mating system parameters were estimated using the mixed mating model (software MLTR). The two populations had significantly different outcrossing rates, with population RD2 having a high rate (t m = 0.838) and population RD1, a lower rate (t m = 0.540). The values of t s were different between the two populations and also lower than those of t m. Significant t m - t s estimates indicated that biparental inbreeding contributed to the apparent selfing rate in these populations. The correlation of paternity was significant in population RD2 (r p = 0.309), suggesting that the progeny were more closely related than inferred by the observed outcrossing rate. The estimates of correlation of paternity, biparental inbreeding and the significant differences in pollen and ovule allele frequencies indicated that population RD2 is genetically substructured. For a pioneer species such as S. multijuga, selfing can be an important strategy for occupying open areas.

Abstract licence: CC BY

A person counts once a day per paper. We keep no cookie and no address: a reader is a hash that changes every day. Any month under five reads shows no number.