REU: Fitness and Gene Flow in a Polymorphic Alpine Plant

在开花植物中，生殖成功的衡量标准不是 仅仅取决于一个人自身产生的种子数量 水果，但也由种子的数量在水果的其他 植物 生殖的第二个组成部分是被创造出来的，“ 因为它反映了植物的能力 将花粉或雄配子传播给其他接受花粉的个体 在人口中。 很少有研究测量男性生殖能力 在自然植物种群中的成功。 因此，我们非常了解 很少有人知道某些人 比其他人更成功的男性父母。 这个问题是核心 对我们理解花的特征的进化， 植物种群的功能性性别比。 拟议 研究将使用蛋白质标记（同工酶）来监测 高山植物实验种群的父系， 粘花葵 这样就可以确定， 男性生殖成功受到广泛变化的影响， 花的大小，花粉的产生和花蜜的产生， 物种 这项研究对农作物有重要意义。 改进和管理。 第一，预防能力 相关杂草种群花粉污染农作物种子 取决于我们对控制花粉捐赠的因素的了解。 其次，通过农作物传播有价值的基因改良 如果这些基因的存在， 改善与其他增强父亲的 成功 第三，将上级花粉供体引入林分 果园或种子作物的产量应该提高， 经济成本，无环境破坏。 拟议研究 将为实现这些目标提供基本信息。

In flowering plants reproductive success is measured not only by the number of seeds produced in an individual's own fruits, but also by the number of seeds sired in fruits of other plants. This second component of reproduction has been coined, " male reproductive success," because it reflects a plant's ability to disperse pollen or male gametes to other receptive individuals in the population. Few studies have measured male reproductive success in natural plant populations. Consequently, we know very little about the characteristics that make certain individuals more successful male parents than others. This issue is central to our understanding of the evolution of floral traits and functional sex ratios in plant populations. The proposed research will use protein markers (isoenzymes) to monitor paternity in experimental populations of the alpine plant, Polemonium viscosum. In this way it can be determined whether male reproductive success is influenced by extensive variation in flower size, pollen production and nectar production in this species. The proposed research has important implications for crop improvement and management. First, our ability to prevent contamination of crop seed by pollen of related weed populations depends on our knowledge of factors controlling pollen donation. Next, spread of valuable genetic improvements through crop populations can be accomplished most readily if genes for such improvements are associated with others enhancing paternal success. Third, introducing superior pollen donors into stands of orchard or seed crops should improve yield with little economic cost and no environmental damage. The proposed research will provide information basic to reaching these goals.