The harmful effects of close inbreeding have been noticed for many centuries (34, 35, 165).
With the rise of Mendelian genetics, it was realized that the main genetic consequence of …

Whether inbreeding affects the demography and persistence of natural populations has
been questioned. However, new pedigree data from field populations and molecular and …

Genetic diversity is one of the three forms of biodiversity recognized by the World
Conservation Union (IUCN) as deserving conservation. The need to conserve genetic …

The transition from outcrossing to self-fertilization is one of the most common evolutionary
changes in plants, yet only about 10–15% of flowering plants are predominantly selfing. To …

Predicting the extinction of single populations or species requires ecological and
evolutionary information. Primary demographic factors affecting population dynamics …

Rates of spontaneous mutation per genome as measured in the laboratory are remarkably
similar within broad groups of organisms but differ strikingly among groups. Mutation rates in …

Charles Darwin recognized that flowering plants have an unrivalled diversity of sexual
systems. Determining the ecological and genetic factors that govern sexual diversification in …

Most flowering plants are hermaphroditic, yet the proportion of seeds fertilized by self and
outcross pollen varies widely among species, ranging from predominant self-fertilization to …

▪ Abstract Here we review the biology of early generation neopolyploids and discuss the
profound changes that accompany their formation. Newly formed auto-and allopolyploids …

Autopolyploidy is more common in plants than traditionally assumed, but has received little
attention compared with allopolyploidy. Hence, the advantages and disadvantages of …