J Integr Plant Biol. ›› 2014, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (4): 411-419.DOI: 10.1111/jipb.12140

• Plant Reproduction • Previous Articles    

Pre- and post-zygotic reproductive isolation between co-occurring Mussaenda pubescens var. alba and M. shikokiana (Rubiaceae)

Shi Chen, Zhonglai Luo and Dianxiang Zhang*   

  1. Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
  • Received:2013-08-30 Accepted:2013-11-26 Published:2013-12-03
  • About author:These authors contributed equally to this work.
    *Correspondence: E-mail: dx-zhang@scbg.ac.cn

Abstract:

Reproductive isolation is a fundamental requirement for speciation and includes several sequential stages. Few studies have determined the relative contributions of pre- and post-zygotic reproductive isolation in plants, especially between relative species with clear differentiation in flower form. To investigate the mechanisms responsible for reproductive isolation in sympatric Mussaenda pubescens var. alba and Mussaenda shikokiana (Rubiaceae) in Guangxi Province, China, we made observations of flowering phenology, patterns of insect visitation, and conducted pollination experiments, including artificial hybridization. The two species had overlapping flowering times and were pollinated by overlapping pollinators; however, their relative importance differed significantly with M. pubescens visited more commonly by bees and M. shikokiana more frequently by butterflies. Using vegetative and floral characters and molecular evidence based on nuclear ribosomal internal and external transcribed spacer regions we detected seven naturally occurring hybrids among a sample of approximately 125 individuals. Hybrids were characterized by morphologies that most closely resembled their maternal parents based on chloroplast evidence. Studies of artificially synthesized and natural hybrids demonstrated that hybrid seed had very low germination rates and naturally occurring hybrids exhibited pollen sterility. Post-zygotic reproductive isolating mechanisms play a primary role in limiting gene exchange between co-occurring species and maintaining species integrity in areas of sympatry.

Chen S, Luo Z, Zhang D (2014) Pre‐and post‐zygotic reproductive isolation between co‐occurring Mussaenda pubescens var. alba and M. shikokiana (Rubiaceae). J Integr Plant Biol 56: 411–419. doi: 10.1111/jipb.12140

Key words: Gene flow, Mussaenda, natural hybrids, reproductive isolation, sympatric congeners

Editorial Office, Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, Institute of Botany, CAS
No. 20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan, Beijing 100093, China
Tel: +86 10 6283 6133 Fax: +86 10 8259 2636 E-mail: jipb@ibcas.ac.cn
Copyright © 2022 by the Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Online ISSN: 1744-7909 Print ISSN: 1672-9072 CN: 11-5067/Q
备案号:京ICP备16067583号-22