TY  - JOUR
A1  - Sicard, Adrien
A1  - Stacey, Nicola
A1  - Hermann, Katrin
A1  - Dessoly, Jimmy
A1  - Neuffer, Barbara
A1  - Bäurle, Isabel
A1  - Lenhard, Michael
T1  - Genetics, evolution, and adaptive significance of the selfing syndrome in the genus Capsella
JF  - The plant cell
N2  - The change from outbreeding to selfing is one of the most frequent evolutionary transitions in flowering plants. It is often accompanied by characteristic morphological and functional changes to the flowers (the selfing syndrome), including reduced flower size and opening. Little is known about the developmental and genetic basis of the selfing syndrome, as well as its adaptive significance. Here, we address these issues using the two closely related species Capsella grandiflora (the ancestral outbreeder) and red shepherd's purse (Capsella rubella, the derived selfer). In C. rubella, petal size has been decreased by shortening the period of proliferative growth. Using interspecific recombinant inbred lines, we show that differences in petal size and flower opening between the two species each have a complex genetic basis involving allelic differences at multiple loci. An intraspecific cross within C. rubella suggests that flower size and opening have been decreased in the C. rubella lineage before its extensive geographical spread. Lastly, by generating plants that likely resemble the earliest ancestors of the C. rubella lineage, we provide evidence that evolution of the selfing syndrome was at least partly driven by selection for efficient self-pollination. Thus, our studies pave the way for a molecular dissection of selfing-syndrome evolution.
Y1  - 2011
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.111.088237
SN  - 1040-4651
VL  - 23
IS  - 9
SP  - 3156
EP  - 3171
PB  - American Society of Plant Physiologists
CY  - Rockville
ER  -