On the possible role of nonreproductive traits for the evolution of unisexuality: Life-history variation among males, females, and hermaphrodites in Opuntia robusta (Cactaceae).

ABSTRACT: In angiosperms, dioecy has arisen in 871-5,000 independent events, distributed in approximately 43% of the flowering families. The reproductive superiority of unisexuals has been the favorite explanation for the evolution of separate sexes. However, in several instances, the observed reproductive performance of unisexuals, if any, does not seem to compensate for the loss of one of the sex functions. The involvement of fitness components not directly associated with reproduction is a plausible hypothesis that has received little attention. Life-history traits recently recognized as predictors of plant performance were compared among males, females, and hermaphrodites of a rare trioecious Opuntia robusta population in the field, using the cladode as the study unit. Cladode mortality b

SUBMITTER: Del Castillo RF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6065339 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature