Mating patterns and pollen dispersal in four contrasting wild cherry populations (Prunus avium L.)

Abstract

Although pollen dispersal has been extensively studied in trees, parameters influencing between-population variation are still poorly understood. In this study, we conducted paternity analyses on open-pollinated seeds in four natural populations of wild cherry (Prunus avium) with contrasting density and clonal propagation, using eight microsatellite loci and one self-incompatibility system locus. We also measured four quantitative traits and spatial positions as potential correlates of reproductive success. Levels of polyandry differed among populations and 30% of the seed families exhibited unequal paternal contributions, suggesting variation in reproductive success rather than variation in mate availability. Mating occurred preferentially among neighbours in all populations, suggesting that it is a common pattern in wild cherry and probably results from pollinator behaviour. Paternal success was positively correlated with diameter at breast height, as indicated in previous studies and tree dominance only resulted in higher paternal success in low density plots. Mating patterns were thus also affected by both density and tree size. Large-scale studies are needed to disentangle relative influences of these factors on the mating system and pollination success.

Effects of converting natural forests to coniferous plantations on fruit and seed production and mating patterns in wild cherry trees

“…These estimates of the pollen dispersal distance are shorter than the length (152-1061 m) of our observation trail at each site. The mean correlated paternity observed in P. avium ranged from 0.089 to 0.142 (Cottrell et al 2009;Jolivet et al 2011), which is similar to those (0.076 £ r £ 0.104) observed in P. verecunda. These values indicate that the effective number of fathers is approximately 10, which is smaller than the number (12-44) of flowering trees observed at each site.…”

“…However, we were unable to estimate the pollen dispersal distance in P. verecunda from the correlated paternity between the maternal trees. Pollen dispersal and mating patterns have been intensively studied in a congeneric species, P. avium L. The mean distance of pollen dispersal estimated in P. avium ranged from 20 to 145 m, although these values were underestimated, because pollen immigration from outside the study sites was ignored (Cottrell et al 2009;Jolivet et al 2011). These estimates of the pollen dispersal distance are shorter than the length (152-1061 m) of our observation trail at each site.…”

Molecular and quantitative signatures of biparental inbreeding depression in the self-incompatible tree species Prunus avium

“…Simulations were conducted with 50 000 offspring, 20 candidate fathers and 1% genotyping errors. Number of candidate fathers was based on direct and indirect estimates of the number and effective number of fathers per seed-tree (Jolivet et al, 2012). Selfing was not allowed.…”

Paternal‐specific S‐allele transmission in sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.): the potential for sexual selection

“…Based on our results, we propose that post‐pollination prefertilization sexual selection is potentially another selective pressure. Mixed‐donor loads on wild sweet cherry stigmas would be a prerequisite for such a selective force to have an effect, and this is likely to occur as high pollen flow distances and high polyandry have been reported under natural conditions (Jolivet et al ., ). Interestingly, unequal paternal contribution has also been reported in this species (Jolivet et al ., ).…”

“…The latter case occurs after mixed‐donor pollinations, which is likely to take place under natural conditions (e.g. Winsor et al ., ; Jolivet et al ., ), and is equivalent to sperm competition in animals in which gametes are produced directly after meiosis. Plant mating systems have been reported to depend on the quantity and identity of pollen grains reaching the stigma and on the ability of the female recipient to discriminate among them (Cruzan & Barrett, ).…”