Genetic variability in bryophytes: does mating system really matter?

Abstract

Mating patterns do not alter allelic frequencies in natural populations. Therefore, if evolution is defined as changes in allelic frequencies in a population through time, then mating system is not an evolutionary force. There is no direct causal link between mating patterns and the familiar measures of genetic variability applied to allele frequency data from haploid gametophyte populations. In this paper we focus on how mating patterns may affect intralocus variability when acting together with evolutionary forces, like selection and drift. Moreover, we address how levels of inbreeding can have a profound influence on haplotypic variation. Measures for estimating the extent of recombination from haplotypic variation are presented. It seems that high levels of selfing are not necessarily associated with bisexuality in bryophytes.