Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2003; 5(5): 491-494
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-44784
Original Paper

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Flower Visitors in a Natural Population of Arabidopsis thaliana

M. H. Hoffmann 1 , M. Bremer 1 , K. Schneider 2 , F. Burger 3 , E. Stolle 2 , G. Moritz 2
  • 1Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Institut für Geobotanik und Botanischer Garten, Halle, Germany
  • 2Institut für Zoologie, Halle, Germany
  • 3Naturkundemuseum Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
27 November 2003 (online)

Abstract

Arabidopsis thaliana is commonly regarded as a self-pollinated plant species. One of the many surprises in population genetic studies of the species was the observation of distinct traces of recombination in the DNA sequences that may be the result of rare outcrossing events. We studied flower visitors in a natural population of the species. Solitary bees, diptera and thrips are among the most frequently observed insects among the surprising diversity of insects visiting flowers of A. thaliana. Assuming that every visit equals an outcrossing event, the outcrossing rate was estimated to be 0.84 %. This value falls between estimations of outcrossing rates from molecular data and those of artificial systems. Despite the rather low rate of flower visitation, A. thaliana can no longer be regarded as a completely self-pollinated plant species in the wild. This observation may explain recombination events observed in molecular analyses. Possible pollen transfer between populations due to the mobility of the observed insects should be considered in population genetic analyses.

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M. H. Hoffmann

Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
Institut für Geobotanik und Botanischer Garten

Am Kirchtor 3

06108 Halle

Germany

Email: hoffmann@botanik.uni-halle.de

Section Editor: M. Koornneef