Unusual heterostyly: style dimorphism and self-incompatibility are not tightly associated in Lithodora and Glandora (Boraginaceae).

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Heterostyly is a floral polymorphism characterized by the reciprocal position of stamens and stigmas in different flower morphs in a population. This reciprocal herkogamy is usually associated with an incompatibility system that prevents selfing and intra-morph fertilization, termed a heteromorphic incompatibility system. In different evolutionary models explaining heterostyly, it has been alternately argued that heteromorphic incompatibility either preceded or followed the evolution of reciprocal herkogamy. In some models, reciprocal herkogamy and incompatibility have been hypothesized to be linked together during the evolution of the heterostylous system.

Methods

We examine the incompatibility systems in species with different stylar polymorphisms from

SUBMITTER: Ferrero V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3278292 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature