Sophora microphylla - Massey University

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cies from Isla Robinson Crusoe. Am J Bot 91:198–206. Bond WJ 1994 Do mutualisms matter? assessing the impact of pollinator and disperser disruption on ...
Int. J. Plant Sci. 172(2):191–198. 2011. Ó 2011 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved. 1058-5893/2011/17202-0004$15.00 DOI: 10.1086/657678

FUTILE SELFING IN THE TREES FUCHSIA EXCORTICATA (ONAGRACEAE) AND SOPHORA MICROPHYLLA (FABACEAE): INBREEDING DEPRESSION OVER 11 YEARS Alastair W. Robertson,1 ,* Dave Kelly,y and Jenny J. Ladleyy *Ecology, Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand; and ySchool of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand

Mixed mating (producing a mix of selfed and outcrossed seed) is common in flowering plants and is ecologically important because it potentially offers reproductive assurance against pollination failure. However, selfed seed offers no reproductive assurance unless it overcomes inbreeding depression. In trees and other long-lived plants, genetic evidence suggests that selfed seed seldom matures to adulthood, presumably because of severe inbreeding depression. We measured inbreeding depression over 11 yr in two populations each of two New Zealand trees, Fuchsia excorticata and Sophora microphylla, from pollination to germination and performance in both pots and the field. The accumulated inbreeding depression was very high in both cases (F. excorticata: d ¼ 0:74 and 0.84; S. microphylla: d ¼ 0:94 and 0.99) and largely late acting, especially in F. excorticata. Fewer than 10% (and