Evolutionary consequences of self-fertilization in plants

• Published in: Proceedings of the Royal Society. B, Biological sciences Vol. 280; no. 1760; p. 20130133
• Main Authors: Wright, Stephen I., Kalisz, Susan, Slotte, Tanja
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England The Royal Society 07.06.2013
• Subjects: Adaptation; Adaptation, Biological - genetics; Biological Evolution; Dead-End Hypothesis; Extinction, Biological; Likelihood Functions; Magnoliopsida - genetics; Magnoliopsida - physiology; Mating System Transition; Models, Biological; Mutation - genetics; Review; Review Articles; Self-Fertilization - physiology; Species Specificity

The transition from outcrossing to self-fertilization is one of the most common evolutionary changes in plants, yet only about 10–15% of flowering plants are predominantly selfing. To explain this phenomenon, Stebbins proposed that selfing may be an ‘evolutionary dead end’. According to this hypothe...