Effect of population density of compatible neighbours on inbreeding level within a Primula sieboldii population

Abstract

We investigated the effect of population density of compatible neighbours on inbreeding level of Primula sieboldii, a heterostylous clonal herb. Pollinator availability, seed set, selfing rate, diversity of pollen donors, and fitness of progenies were compared between less and more isolated genets, which differed in the number of compatible opposite-morph genets within 20 m, the range at which most pollen flow occurred. Although pollinator availability did not differ between the two groups, seed set and diversity of pollen donors in more isolated genets were significantly lower than in less isolated genets. Additionally, the mean selfing rates of less and more isolated genets were 1.3 and 36.7%, respectively, and the mean leaf area of the self-fertilized seedlings was 70 to 40% smaller than that of outcrossed seedlings of the same mother genet. Due to this large inbreeding depression, it is unlikely that self-fertilized seedlings could successfully establish in natural habitats and hence the inbreeding level in the next generation around the more isolated genet would not increase rapidly. However, the possibility of mating between full-sibs would increase because the diversity of pollen donors was low and both pollen and seed dispersal were spatially restricted. Thus the inbreeding level of the next generations would gradually increase around the more isolated genets owing to biparental inbreeding. This study suggested that the population density of compatible neighbours has a critical impact on the future inbreeding level within P. sieboldii populations.