Abstract Detail

Molecular Ecology and Evolution

Hammond, Adam T. [1], Carlson, Ann L. [2], Swanson , Robert John [3].

Mechanisms of non-random mating in Arabidopsis thaliana investigated by examining pollen competition, on stigmas, by microscopy.

Nonrandom mating is the observation that some pollen has greater mating success — that the proportions of sires with the progeny is not equal to the initial proportion of pollen on that landed on the stigma. Observations of nonrandom outcomes when some of the pollen is not surprising in cases where some of the pollen is incompatible with the flower due to self-incompatibility systems or genetic distance, and there is growing mechanistic understanding of how incompatibility systems operate. Much more mysterious are the observations of nonrandom mating among compatible mates. known about the physiology and genetics responsible for differential compatible mate performance. 
Our research has exploited tools in Arabidopsis thaliana to identify the genetic loci responsible for female and male-mediated nonrandom mating. Specifically, we have developed a system in Arabidopsis to easily determine the paternity of progeny from nonrandom mating experiments. Using this system, we have demonstrated that Arabidopsis mates nonrandomly between genetically and geographically distinct accessions. We have used traditional linkage mapping and whole genome association analysis to investigate the genetic architecture responsible for these phenotypes. In the process, we have uncovered genetic loci responsible for both female and male mediated nonrandom mating.  We have also developed an assay to visualize different pollen populations during fertilization. These methods allow us, for the first time, to visualize the dynamics of pollen behavior during competition, and to discover the genes that encode the variable traits associated with nonrandom mating.

1 - University of Chicago, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 929 E. 57th St., GCIS W104, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
2 - Valparaiso, Biology, Valparaiso, IN, 46383, USA
3 - Valparaiso University, Biology, Neils Science Center 304, Valparaiso, IN, 46383, USA

Keywords:
Nonrandom mating
Pollen competition
Arabidopsis.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Eyrie/Boise Centre
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2014
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PME009
Abstract ID:710
Candidate for Awards:None