Published In
International Journal of Plant Sciences
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-1-2004
Subjects
Symmetry (Biology), Plant physiology, Plants -- Development
Abstract
We estimated levels of developmental instability in leaves, as indicated by fluctuating asymmetry (i.e., random deviations from perfect bilateral symmetry), across a broad hybrid zone between two taxa in the Piriqueta caroliniana complex. Previous studies have indicated that this hybrid zone was initiated in southern Florida and has expanded northward. We found that plants from the hybrid zone generally had higher levels of leaf developmental instability than plants from allopatric regions, but the increase in asymmetry was not substantial. Although it is usually assumed that developmental instability is associated with lower fitness, these Piriqueta hybrids from central Florida are similar in fitness (estimated by vegetative growth, survival, and reproduction over three growing seasons) to plants from the allopatric regions, and levels of asymmetry were not correlated with fitness for population averages or individuals. We interpret these patterns as evidence that mildly deleterious genetic incompatibilities, which contribute to developmental instability, may have been fixed in hybrid populations as a result of genetic drift.
Persistent Identifier
http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/8839
Citation Details
Handy, S. M., McBreen, K., and Cruzan, M. B. (2004). Patterns of Fitness and Fluctuating Asymmetry Across a Broad Hybrid Zone. International Journal of Plant Sciences, 165(6), 973-981.
Description
This is the publisher's final PDF. © 2004 by The University of Chicago