Mutation rates in mangroves and other plants

Abstract

Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) possesses two traits that make it an ideal species for the measurement of per generation mutation rates in natural populations: vivipary and self-pollination. Vivipary allows the scoring of offspring phenotypes when they are attached to the maternal parent and self-pollination results in the attainment of near mutation/selection equilibria in relatively few generations. Mutation rates for the multigenic mutant phenotype chlorophyll-deficiency are presented for mangroves and the rates are compared to other plant taxa. Patterns are evident for marginal vs., central populations and for variations in life-form.