Selection on plant phenotypic traits through male and female function

• Applicant: Dr. Annette Kolb
• Subject Area: Ecology and Biodiversity of Plants and Ecosystems
• Term: from 2008 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 71963991

Attractive characters of hermaphroditic plants are expected to evolve in response to pollinatormediated selection acting through both female and male sex functions. To date, however, most studies are restricted to selection through female fitness. Previous work with the perennial herb Phyteuma spicatum (Campanulaceae) suggests that there is selection on several attractive traits through female fitness and that selection may be modified by local plant density. While selection through female function did not appear to be mediated by pollinators, pollinator observations showed that pollinators prefer plants with a larger floral display. This suggests that pollinators may contribute to selection on floral display size through differences in male fitness. The major goals of this study are therefore to examine the relative strength and direction of selection on plant phenotypic traits through both male and female function and to investigate whether selection is modified by local plant density. Female fitness will be assessed as the number of seeds produced per plant, while male fitness will be estimated using molecular genetic markers (microsatellites). This work will thereby contribute to a more in-depth understanding of the adaptive evolution of plant phenotypic traits.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants