Nuclear arms races: Experimental evolution for mating success in the mushroom-forming fungus Schizophyllum commune.

ABSTRACT: When many gametes compete to fertilize a limited number of compatible gametes, sexual selection will favour traits that increase competitive success during mating. In animals and plants, sperm and pollen competition have yielded many interesting adaptations for improved mating success. In fungi, similar processes have not been shown directly yet. We test the hypothesis that sexual selection can increase competitive fitness during mating, using experimental evolution in the mushroom-forming fungus Schizophyllum commune (Basidiomycota). Mating in mushroom fungi occurs by donation of nuclei to a mycelium. These fertilizing 'male' nuclei migrate through the receiving 'female' mycelium. In our setup, an evolving population of nuclei was serially mated with a non-evolving female mycelium for 20

SUBMITTER: Nieuwenhuis BPS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6320016 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature