Intra- and Inter-Specific Crosses among Centaurea aspera L. (Asteraceae) Polyploid Relatives-Influences on Distribution and Polyploid Establishment.

ABSTRACT: How polyploids become established is a long-debated question, especially for autopolyploids that seem to have no evolutionary advantage over their progenitors. The Centaurea aspera polyploid complex includes diploid C. aspera and two related tetraploids C. seridis and C. gentilii. Our purpose was to study the mating system among these three taxa and to analyze its influence on polyploid establishment. The distribution and ploidy level of the Moroccan populations, and forced intra- and inter-specific crosses were assessed. Allotetraploid C. seridis produced more cypselae per capitulum in the intra-specific crosses. It is a bigger plant and autogamous, and previous studies indicated that selfing forces the asymmetric formation of sterile hybrids. All these characteristics help C. seridis to

SUBMITTER: Garmendia A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7569768 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature