Evolution of self-compatibility in Arabidopsis by a mutation in the male specificity gene

Takashi Tsuchimatsu, Keita Suwabe, Rie Shimizu-Inatsugi, Sachiyo Isokawa, Pavlos Pavlidis, Thomas Städler, Go Suzuki, Seiji Takayama, Masao Watanabe () and Kentaro K. Shimizu ()
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Takashi Tsuchimatsu: Institute of Plant Biology, University Research Priority Program in Systems Biology/Functional Genomics & Zürich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 107, CH-8008 Zurich, Switzerland
Keita Suwabe: Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Katahira, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
Rie Shimizu-Inatsugi: Institute of Plant Biology, University Research Priority Program in Systems Biology/Functional Genomics & Zürich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 107, CH-8008 Zurich, Switzerland
Sachiyo Isokawa: Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Katahira, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
Pavlos Pavlidis: Section of Evolutionary Biology, BioCenter, University of Munich (LMU), Grosshaderner Strasse 2, D-82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
Thomas Städler: Plant Ecological Genetics, Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 16, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Go Suzuki: Osaka Kyoiku University
Seiji Takayama: Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology
Masao Watanabe: Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Katahira, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
Kentaro K. Shimizu: Institute of Plant Biology, University Research Priority Program in Systems Biology/Functional Genomics & Zürich-Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 107, CH-8008 Zurich, Switzerland

Nature, 2010, vol. 464, issue 7293, 1342-1346

Abstract: Evolution of 'selfing' Self-fertilization in plants can cause inbreeding depression, with 'selfed' offspring suffering reduced fitness. But — as Darwin predicted — selfing may be favoured when pollinators or mates are scarce. The main mechanism preventing selfing is the self-incompatibility recognition system, which consists of male and female specificity genes and modifier genes. It is predicted that mutations in male genes, spread by both pollen and seeds, would predominate over mutants in female genes. That prediction is confirmed by a comparison of DNA sequences of the predominantly selfing species Arabidopsis thaliana obtained from across Europe. In 95% of sequences there is a disruptive 213-base-pair inversion in the male specificity gene (SCR) or a derivative. Self-incompatibility is restored by returning this rearrangement to its original orientation.

Date: 2010
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DOI: 10.1038/nature08927

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