Journal Article

Late‐acting self‐incompatibility – the pariah breeding system in flowering plants

Gibbs, Peter E

2014

Overview

CONTENTS: 717 I. 717 II. 718 III. 718 IV. 720 V. 722 VI. 722 VII. 728 730 References 730 SUMMARY: It is estimated that around half of all species of flowering plants show self‐incompatibility (SI). However, the great majority of species alleged to have SI simply comply with ‘the inability of a fully fertile hermaphrodite plant to produce zygotes when self‐pollinated’ – a definition that is neutral as to cause. Surprisingly few species have been investigated experimentally to determine whether their SI has the type of genetic control found in one of the three established mechanisms, that is, homomorphic gametophytic, homomorphic sporophytic or heteromorphic SI. Furthermore, our knowledge of the molecular basis of homomorphic SI derives from a few species in just five families – a small sample that has nevertheless revealed the existence of three different molecular mechanisms. Importantly, a sizeable cohort of species are self‐sterile despite the fact that self‐pollen tubes reach the ovary and in most cases penetrate ovules, a phenomenon called late‐acting self‐incompatibility (LSI). This review draws attention to the confusion between species that show ‘self‐incompatibility’ and those that possess one of the ‘conventional SI mechanisms’ and to argue the case for recognition of LSI as having a widespread occurrence and as a mechanism that inhibits selfing and promotes outbreeding in many plant species.

• Publisher: William Wesley and Son,New Phytologist Trust,Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subject: Abscission / Acetic acid / Alleles / Angiospermae / Angiosperms / Biological taxonomies / Breeding / breeding systems / Cohorts / Crop production / Cross-pollination / Embryos / Fecundity / Females / Fertility / Flowering / Flowering plants / Flowers / Fluorescence microscopy / Fruits / gametophytes / Genera / Genetic control / Genetic loci / Genetics / Hermaphrodites / Hermaphroditism / heteromorphic self‐incompatibility / Histology / homomorphic self‐incompatibility / Inbreeding / Incompatibility / late‐acting self‐incompatibility / Magnoliophyta / Magnoliopsida / Magnoliopsida - genetics / Magnoliopsida - physiology / Molecular modelling / Outbreeding / Ovaries / Ovules / Phylogeny / physiology / Plant breeding / Plant species / Plants / Plants (botany) / Pollen / Pollen tubes / Pollination / Pollinators / Proteins / Seeds / Self-Incompatibility in Flowering Plants / Self-Incompatibility in Flowering Plants - physiology / selfing / Species / Species diversity / Species Specificity / sporophytes / Tansley reviews / Taxa / Woody plants / zygote / Zygotes