Patterns of hybrid formation among cryptic species of bird-nest fern, Asplenium nidus complex (Aspleniaceae), in West Malesia
In order to clarify patterns of hybrid formation in the Asplenium nidus complex, artificial crossing experiments were performed between individuals of genetically differentiated groups based on the sequence of the rbcL gene, including A. australasicum from New Caledonia, A. setoi from Japan and seve...
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Published in | Botanical journal of the Linnean Society Vol. 160; no. 1; pp. 42 - 63 |
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Main Authors | , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Oxford, UK
Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd
01.05.2009
Blackwell Publishing Ltd |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | In order to clarify patterns of hybrid formation in the Asplenium nidus complex, artificial crossing experiments were performed between individuals of genetically differentiated groups based on the sequence of the rbcL gene, including A. australasicum from New Caledonia, A. setoi from Japan and several cryptic species in the A. nidus complex. No hybrid plants were obtained in crosses between nine of the 16 pairs. Even for pairs that generated hybrids, the frequency of hybrid formation was lower than expected given random mating, or only one group was able to act as the maternal parent, when the genetic distance (Kimura's two parameter) between parental individuals was at least 0.006. Sterile hybrids were produced by three pairs that were distantly related but capable of forming hybrids. Considering the results of the crosses together with the genetic distance between the parental individuals, it seems that the frequency of hybrid formation decreases rapidly with increasing divergence. The frequency of hybrid formation has not been previously examined in homosporous ferns, but it seems that a low frequency of hybrid formation can function as an important mechanism of reproductive isolation between closely related pairs of species in the A. nidus complex in addition to hybrid sterility. |
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Bibliography: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00964.x ark:/67375/WNG-9TLQ5Q40-D istex:3DDA1C6E752ACF5BBB5527A8E9CA71CFCF655E3B ArticleID:BOJ964 ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0024-4074 1095-8339 |
DOI: | 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00964.x |