Polyploid species rely on vegetative reproduction more than diploids: a re-examination of the old hypothesis.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Polyploidy is arguably the single most important genetic mechanism in plant speciation and diversification. It has been repeatedly suggested that polyploids show higher vegetative reproduction than diploids (to by-pass low fertility after the polyploidization), but there are no rigorous tests of it.

Methods

Data were analysed by phylogenetic regressions of clonal growth parameters, and vegetative reproduction in culture on the ploidy status of a large set of species (approx. 900) from the Central European Angiosperm flora. Further, correlated evolution of ploidy and clonal traits was examined to determine whether or not polyploidy precedes vegetative reproduction.

Key results

The analyses showed that polyploidy is strongly associated with vegetativ

SUBMITTER: Herben T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5737615 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature