The evolution of plant reproductive characters; sexual versus natural selection

Abstract

The rôle of sexual selection in the evolution of plant reproductive characters has become a widely discussed topic among plant population biologists. For many reproductive characters, it is difficult to distinguish whether sexual selection or natural selection has been the more important force. We propose a definition of sexual selection for cosexual species and critically review the topic of sexual selection in plants. The emphasis of the chapter is on the evolution of plant reproductive characters, rather than on the issue of whether certain phenomena should be classified as sexual or natural selection. We do, however, argue that the category of sexual selection should not include the phenomena of inbreeding depression, genetically based self-incompatibility systems controlled by one or a few loci, or the effects of wide crossing and specific combining ability. We then discuss the available information on pollen competition and progeny quality, fruit and seed abortion, and the rôle of pollinator attraction in male and female fertility.