title: Is there a hybridization barrier between Gentiana lutea color morphs?
abstract: In Gentiana lutea two varieties are described: G. lutea var. aurantiaca with orange corolla colors and G. lutea var. lutea with yellow corolla colors. Both color varieties co-occur in NW Spain, and pollinators select flower color in this species. It is not known whether a hybridization barrier exists between these G. lutea color varieties. We aim to test the compatibility between flower color varieties in G. lutea and its dependence on pollen vectors. Within a sympatric population containing both flower color morphs, we analyzed differences in reproductive success (number, weight, viability and germinability of seeds) depending on fertilization treatments (autogamy and xenogamy within variety and among varieties). We found a 93% reduction in number of seeds and a 37% reduction in seed weight respectively of autogamy treatments compared to xenogamy crossings. Additionally, reproductive success is higher within color varieties than among varieties, due to a 45% seed viability reduction on hybrids from different varieties. Our results show that G. lutea reproductive success is strongly dependent on pollinators and that a partial hybridization barrier exists between G. lutea varieties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Ecology, Area of Ecology, Biology School, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela , Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña , Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Losada
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Biology School, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela , Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña , Spain.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Veiga
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Biology School, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela , Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña , Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guitián
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Ecology, Area of Ecology, Biology School, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela , Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña , Spain.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guitián
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Biology School, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela , Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña , Spain.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guitián
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Ecology, Area of Ecology, Biology School, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela , Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña , Spain.
authors.forename: Mar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sobral
keywords: Flower color morphs; Gentiana lutea; Hybridization barrier; Outcrossing success; Pollen vectors; Self-incompatibility