The Genetics of Dimorphism and Reproduction in Plant Populations

种群进化的特点是平衡 促进变化的因素和遗传限制之间的关系 强加于这种变化。 在本研究中， 两性之间的形态差异（两性异形 性状）内雌雄异株种群被用作模型 系统来研究这种平衡。 性的进化 二型性状涉及雄性和雌性之间的遗传权衡， 女性生殖能力 这样的权衡是 性别之间的遗传相关性，这反过来反映了 在多大程度上，相应的特点，在两个性别，如 花的大小，都受到类似的遗传影响。 在 上一个资助期，雌雄异株的雄性和雌性 植物白蝇子草进行性别特异性选择， 花萼直径和花数，以评估双方的遗传 根据这些性状的性别选择和评估 在另一个性别的相关反应。 这项工作产生了 男性要么变得更加极端 或多或少，或少，或多或少， 女性特征的人群。 的主要目的 一项拟议的研究是从这些不同的动物中挑选雄性（或雌性）， 线，将它们放置在半自然的环境中，并评估 它们的繁殖能力 因此将 有可能评估修改这些性状的后果， 无论是男性或女性植物，并通过评估性能 其女或其男，其女或其女，其女或其男，其女或其女，其女或其男，其女或其男，其女或其女，其女或其男，其女或其女，其女或其男，其女或其女，其女，其女或其男，其女，其女，其男或其女，其男，其女，其 选择相关反应的遗传后果 性别不受直接选择。 这项工作将有助于 我们对进化动力学的整体理解 性二态特征以及遗传的影响 两性之间的相关性

The evolution of populations is characterized by a balance between factors acting to promote change and genetic constraints imposed on such change. In the present study, the evolution of morphological differences between the sexes (sexually dimorphic traits) within dioecious populations is being used as a model system to investigate this balance. The evolution of sexually dimorphic traits involves genetic tradeoffs between male and female reproductive performance. Such tradeoffs are the result of genetic correlations between the sexes, which in turn reflect the extent to which corresponding traits in the two sexes, such as flower size, are controlled by similar genetic influences. In the previous funding period, males and females of the dioecious plant Silene alba were subjected to sex-specific selection for calyx diameter and flower number to evaluate both the genetic basis for these traits in the sex under selection and to assess correlated response in the other sex. This work has generated populations in which males have become either more extremely male-like or more female-like, and a similar series of populations for female traits. The primary objective of the proposed study is to take males (or females) from these different lines, place them in a semi-natural environment, and evaluate their comparative reproductive performance. Thus it will be possible to evaluate the consequences of modifying such traits in either male or female plants, and by evaluating performance of their female or male relatives, respectively, to determine the genetic consequences of correlated response to selection in the sex not under direct selection. This work will contribute to our overall understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of sexually dimorphic traits as well as the affects of genetic correlations between the sexes.