The genetic basis of hybrid male sterility in sympatric Primulina species
Open Access
- 29 April 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in BMC Evolutionary Biology
- Vol. 20 (1), 1-12
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-020-01617-4
Abstract
Background Sympatric sister species provide an opportunity to investigate the genetic mechanisms and evolutionary forces that maintain species boundaries. The persistence of morphologically and genetically distinct populations in sympatry can only occur if some degree of reproductive isolation exists. A pair of sympatric sister species of Primulina (P. depressa and P. danxiaensis) was used to explore the genetic architecture of hybrid male sterility. Results We mapped one major- and seven minor-effect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that underlie pollen fertility rate (PFR). These loci jointly explained 55.4% of the phenotypic variation in the F-2 population. A Bateson-Dobzhansky-Muller (BDM) model involving three loci was observed in this system. We found genotypic correlations between hybrid male sterility and flower morphology, consistent with the weak but significant phenotypic correlations between PFR and floral traits. Conclusions Hybrid male sterility in Primulina is controlled by a polygenic genetic basis with a complex pattern. The genetic incompatibility involves a three-locus BDM model. Hybrid male sterility is genetically correlated with floral morphology and divergence hitchhiking may occur between them.Funding Information
- Natural Science Foundation of China (31570338)
- Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDB31000000)
- China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2019M653111)
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