Abstract:

We explored gamete selection and male reproduction fitness in Liriodendron by paternity analysis of polymix pollination progenies with simple sequence repeat molecular markers. We obtained test parents of 5 trees from 2 species, Liriodendron chinense (FY and LS) and L. tulipifera (LYS, MSL and NK). An equal quantity of pollen obtained from the 5 tested trees was mixed together before pollination and pollinated back to each respective parent. The gamete selection pattern varied among individuals of Liriodendron. As females, NK and LYS were inclined to mate with pollen from different species (interspecies mating), but MSL and LS were more likely to mate with pollen from the same species (intraspecies mating). Within intraspecies mating, NK, LYS and LS leaned to selfing, whereas MSL preferred outcrossing. With L. tulipifera as the female, the ratio of male reproduction contribution of L. tulipifera and L. chinense was 45.5% and 54.5%, respectively; thus, the male reproduction fitness of L. tulipifera to L. chinense was 0.556. With L. chinense as the female, the ratio of male reproduction contribution of L. tulipifera and L. chinense was 15.6% and 84.4%, respectively, the male reproduction fitness of L. tulipifera to L. chinense was 0.123. As a whole, the male reproduction fitness of L. chinense was higher than that of L. tulipifera. Both L. chinense and L. tulipifera were shown to be self-compatible.