Gene flow in Chamaecrista fasciculata (Leguminosae). II. Gene establishment

Abstract

A decelerating gain in progeny fitness with increasing interparent distance was observed. Selfed progeny suffered a 2-fold fitness disadvantage compared to progeny derived from mating events between individuals in the same neighborhood. Progeny derived from within neighborhood crosses had lower fitness than progeny from crosses between neighborhoods. Coupling the effect of interparent distance on gene establishment with information on gene dispersal resulted in a considerable increase in estimated gene flow, but gene flow was still limited, as the average neighborhood area corresponded to a circle with radius of c3.0 m. Yearly fluctuations in population size and variation in reproductive output lowered the estimate of Nc below the census estimate to c100 individuals. Genetic drift probably plays a major role in determining the distribution of genetic variation in this population. -from Author