The ecological and evolutionary consequences of clonality for plant mating

Citation

Vallejo-Marín M, Dorken ME & Barrett SCH (2010) The ecological and evolutionary consequences of clonality for plant mating. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, 41, pp. 193-213. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.110308.120258

Abstract
Many flowering plants exhibit dual reproductive modes, producing both sexual and asexual offspring. The commonest form of asexual reproduction is clonal growth, in which vegetative modules (ramets) are produced by the parental genotype (genet). In plants, sexual and asexual reproduction usually occur simultaneously, and this can lead to allocation trade offs and antagonism between reproductive modes. Our review considers the ecological and evolutionary consequences of functional interactions between clonal reproduction and pollination and mating. Clonal reproduction is commonly associated with mass flowering, restricted pollen dispersal and geitonogamous self-pollination, processes that can result in inbreeding depression and pollen discounting. We review evidence for the correlated evolution of clonality and sexual systems, particularly self-incompatibility, and identify several floral mechanisms that function to reduce mating costs by limiting selfing and pollen discounting. We conclude by discussing the loss of sexuality in clonal plants and consider the genetic and environmental basis of sexual dysfunction.

Keywords
clonal propagation; geitonogamy; inbreeding depression; pollination and mating; sexual systems; somatic mutations; Plants Reproduction; Plants, Sex in

Journal
Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics: Volume 41