51. Experimental Hybridization of Verbesina helianthoides, V. heterophylla, V. aristata, and V. chapmanii (Compositae)
- Author
-
James R. Coleman
- Subjects
biology ,Verbesina ,Allopatric speciation ,Edaphic ,biology.organism_classification ,medicine.disease_cause ,Meiosis ,Pollen ,Botany ,Backcrossing ,medicine ,General Earth and Planetary Sciences ,Ploidy ,General Environmental Science ,Hybrid - Abstract
The diploid eastern United States perennials-Verbesina helianthoides Michx, V. heterophylla (Chapm.) A. Gray, V. aristata (Ell.) A. A. Heller, and V. chapmanii Coleman-were successfully crossed in every combination. The F1 hybrids were vigorous, and mean pollen stainability ranged from 29% to 89%. Mean F1 female fertility ranged from 0 0% to 20 7%. The F2 and backcross plants were also vigorous and relatively fertile. Meiosis was highly regular in the parent species and F1's, with approximately 98% of the chromosomes occurring as bivalents in each case. The species are probably allopatric; however, the southern boundary of the range of V. aristata reaches to within approximately 15 miles of the range of V. chapmanii. The eastern boundary of V. aristata abuts on the western boundary of V. heterophylla, but their ranges apparently do not overlap. Topographic and edaphic factors which possibly maintain these species allopatric are discussed. The possible effects of Pleistocene fluctuations of temperature and...
- Published
- 1974
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