Pollen Siring Success in the California Wildflower Clarkia unguiculata (Onagraceae)

Abstract

Abstract Cryptic self-incompatibility (CSI) is a type of non-random mating observed in self-compatible plants in which outcross pollen sires proportionally more seeds than self pollen when both pollen types are available on the stigma. Levels of CSI are known to vary among individuals and populations. We conducted competitive pollinations consisting of mixtures of self and outcross pollen to investigate reports of CSI in certain populations of Clarkia unguiculata Lindl. We also investigated how the order of self and outcross pollen deposition on the stigma influences the degree of nonrandom mating. Finally, we looked at whether the source population of outcross pollen affected the ability of outcross pollen to outcompete self pollen. We utilized recessive (white-petaled) maternal (and self pollen donor) plants from a locality near Morro Bay, California, and dominant (pink-petaled) outcross pollen donor plants from 17 localities widespread through the species range in California. Progenies from pollination...