Prickly Problems: <i>Cylindropuntia</i>'s Low Genetic Diversity Despite Inbreeding Avoidance.

ABSTRACT: Dioecy, the separation of sexes, is found in 6% of flowering plants. One widely known hypothesis suggests that it is an adaptation to mitigate inbreeding. A contrary hypothesis suggests that dioecy is an evolutionary dead end. However, contrasting patterns emerged from population genetic studies that compared the genetic diversity between dioecy versus hermaphroditic species. Specifically, in Silene, it was shown that dioecious species possess higher genetic diversity than hermaphroditic species, challenging the dead end hypothesis. To evaluate whether dioecy is indeed advantageous, further studies are needed in systems with diverse sexual systems such as the genus Cylindropuntia (Cactaceae). It encompasses species with sexual separation observed solely in polyploids. Notably

SUBMITTER: Ramadoss N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11997463 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature