Rapid divergence in vegetative morphology of a wind-pollinated plant between populations at contrasting densities.

ABSTRACT: Plant sexual dimorphism is thought to evolve in response to sex-specific selection associated with competition for access to mates or resources, both of which may be density dependent. In wind-pollinated plants in particular, vegetative traits such as plant size and architecture may influence resource acquisition and both pollen dispersal and receipt, with potential conflict between these two components of fitness. We evaluated the role of plant density in shaping plant traits by measuring evolutionary responses in experimental populations of the sexually dimorphic wind-pollinated plant Mercurialis annua. After three generations of evolution, we observed divergence between high- and low-density populations in several vegetative traits, whereas there was no divergence for reproductive trait

SUBMITTER: Tonnabel J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9544426 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature