HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Marshall, D. L. Articles by Avritt, J. J. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Marshall, D. L. Articles by Avritt, J. J. Agricola Articles by Marshall, D. L. Articles by Avritt, J. J.

Do differences in plant and flower age change mating patterns and alter offspring fitness in Raphanus sativus (Brassicaceae)?¹

Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131 USA; Department of Organizational Learning and Instructional Technology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131 USA; Baker Hall Environmental Residential Academic Program, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309 USA

ABSTRACT

When more pollen is present on stigmas than needed to fertilize all ovules, selection among pollen grains may occur due to effects of both pollen donors and maternal plants. We asked whether increasing plant age and flower age, two changes in maternal condition, altered the pattern of seed paternity after mixed pollination. We also asked whether changes in seed paternity affected offspring success in an experimental garden. While flower age did not affect seed paternity, there was a dramatic shift in pollen donor performance as plants aged. These differences were seen in the offspring as well, where the offspring of one pollen donor, which sired more seeds on young plants, flowered earlier in the season, and the offspring of another pollen donor, which sired more seeds on old plants, flowered later in the season. Thus, change in maternal condition resulted in altered seed paternity, perhaps because the environment for pollen tube growth was different. The pattern of seed paternity and offspring performance suggests that pollen donors may show temporal specialization.

Key Words: Brassicaceae • flower age • mate choice • offspring fitness • plant age • pollen competition • sexual selection • wild radish

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Compiled by, F. Tooke, T. Chiurugwi, and N. Battey Flowering Newsletter bibliography for 2007 J. Exp. Bot., July 18, 2008; (2008) ern109v1. [Full Text] [PDF]