Decoupling of Sexual Reproduction and Genetic Diversity in the Female-Biased Mojave Desert MossSyntrichia caninervis(Pottiaceae)

Authors

Amber E. Paasch
Brent D. Mishler
Sonja Nosratinia
Lloyd R. Stark, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Kirsten M. Fisher

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-1-2015

Publication Title

International Journal of Plant Sciences

Volume

176

Issue

8

First page number:

751

Last page number:

761

Abstract

If sexual reproduction is necessary for maintaining genotypic diversity, then plant populations lacking sex might be expected to exhibit less genotypic diversity than sexually reproducing populations. This pattern could be particularly pronounced in mosses of harsh environments, where haploid gametophytes persist in the apparent absence of sex, presumably through vegetative cloning. Here we compare genetic diversity in four Mojave Desert populations of the moss Syntrichia caninervis to assess the degree to which sexual reproduction is associated with genotypic diversity. This study helps define the role of reproductive modes in producing and maintaining genetic diversity.

Keywords

Bryophytes; clonal; genetic diversity; Microsatellites; moss; Syntrichia caninervis

Repository Citation

Paasch, A. E., Mishler, B. D., Nosratinia, S., Stark, L. R., Fisher, K. M. (2015). Decoupling of Sexual Reproduction and Genetic Diversity in the Female-Biased Mojave Desert MossSyntrichia caninervis(Pottiaceae). International Journal of Plant Sciences, 176(8), 751-761.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/682708