Selfing and inbreeding depression in seeds and seedlings of Neobalanocarpus heimii (Dipterocarpaceae)

Yoko Naito, Akihiro Konuma, Hiroyoshi Iwata, Yoshihisa Suyama, Kenji Seiwa, Toshinori Okuda, Soon Leong Lee, Norwati Muhammad, Yoshihiko Tsumura

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

70 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We evaluated the degree of selfing and inbreeding depression at the seed and seedling stages of a threatened tropical canopy tree, Neobalanocarpus heimii, using microsatellite markers. Selection resulted in an overall decrease in the level of surviving selfed progeny from seeds to established seedlings, indicating inbreeding depression during seedling establishment. Mean seed mass of selfed progeny was lower than that of outcrossed progeny. Since the smaller seeds suffered a fitness disadvantage at germination in N. heimii, the reduced seed mass of selfed progeny would be one of the determinants of the observed inbreeding depression during seedling establishment. High selfing rates in some mother trees could be attributed to low local densities of reproductive individuals, thus maintenance of a sufficiently high density of mature N. heimii should facilitate regeneration and conservation of the species.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)423-430
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Plant Research
Volume118
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2005 Dec

Keywords

  • Genetic conservation
  • Germination
  • Reproductive biology
  • Seed mass
  • Selfing rate
  • Tropical canopy tree

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Selfing and inbreeding depression in seeds and seedlings of Neobalanocarpus heimii (Dipterocarpaceae)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this