New Zealand Journal of Botany abstract
B96070
Received 6 December 1996; accepted 14 July 1997
New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1997, Vol. 35: 535-543
0028-825X/97/3504-0535 $7.00 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand 1997
Molecular markers and experimental pollinations reveal self-fertility and high
levels of natural inbreeding in the New Zealand endemic tree Vitex
lucens (puriri)
P. J. BARRELL
School of Biological Sciences
The University of Auckland
Private Bag 92019
Auckland, New Zealand
Present address: New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research Ltd,
Private Bag 4704, Christchurch, New Zealand
T. E. RICHARDSON*
New Zealand Forest Research Institute
Private Bag 3020
Rotorua, New Zealand
R. C. GARDNER
School of Biological Sciences
The University of Auckland
Private Bag 92019
Auckland, New Zealand
*Author for correspondence
Abstract The breeding system of the New Zealand endemic tree
Vitex lucens (puriri) (Labiatae) was investigated using controlled
pollinations and paternity analysis with RAPD and microsatellite markers.
Experimental pollinations demonstrated that puriri is physiologically capable
of producing fruit and viable seed from both selfed and outcrossed flowers. A
low level of autogamous seed set was also observed, suggesting that at least
occasional seed set is possible in the absence of pollinators. Polymorphic RAPD
and microsatellite markers were developed for puriri and used to confirm the
parentage of seedlings from experimental self and outcrossed pollinations.
Paternity analysis of 18 seedlings from naturally pollinated drupes collected
from a single tree revealed that a high proportion of these progeny were likely
to be the result of self-pollination. These results are the first demonstration
that puriri is capable of both self-and cross-fertilisation, and that in nature
puriri has a mixed breeding system, with high levels of self-fertilisation
possible. The molecular markers developed in this project will be useful tools
for future puriri genetic studies.
Keywords Vitex lucens; breeding system; paternity
analysis; RAPD; microsatellites
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