Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 17 August 2007:
Vol. 317. no. 5840, pp. 910 - 914
DOI: 10.1126/science.1137729
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Review

Plant Speciation

Loren H. Rieseberg1,2* and John H. Willis3

Like the formation of animal species, plant speciation is characterized by the evolution of barriers to genetic exchange between previously interbreeding populations. Prezygotic barriers, which impede mating or fertilization between species, typically contribute more to total reproductive isolation in plants than do postzygotic barriers, in which hybrid offspring are selected against. Adaptive divergence in response to ecological factors such as pollinators and habitat commonly drives the evolution of prezygotic barriers, but the evolutionary forces responsible for the development of intrinsic postzygotic barriers are virtually unknown and frequently result in polymorphism of incompatibility factors within species. Polyploid speciation, in which the entire genome is duplicated, is particularly frequent in plants, perhaps because polyploid plants often exhibit ecological differentiation, local dispersal, high fecundity, perennial life history, and self-fertilization or asexual reproduction. Finally, species richness in plants is correlated with many biological and geohistorical factors, most of which increase ecological opportunities.

1 Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
2 Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
3 Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: Lriesebe{at}interchange.ubc.ca

Read the Full Text


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Molecular evidence of reticulate evolution in the subgenus Plantago (Plantaginaceae).
N. Ishikawa, J. Yokoyama, and H. Tsukaya (2009)
Am. J. Botany 96, 1627-1635
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Multiple origins promote the ecological amplitude of allopolyploid Aegilops (Poaceae).
H. Meimberg, K. J. Rice, N. F. Milan, C. C. Njoku, and J. K. McKay (2009)
Am. J. Botany 96, 1262-1273
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Chromosome elimination, addition and introgression in intertribal partial hybrids between Brassica rapa and Isatis indigotica.
Y. Tu, J. Sun, X. Ge, and Z. Li (2009)
Ann. Bot. 103, 1039-1048
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Historical Divergence and Gene Flow in the Genus Zea.
J. Ross-Ibarra, M. Tenaillon, and B. S. Gaut (2009)
Genetics 181, 1399-1413
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Recent speciation of Capsella rubella from Capsella grandiflora, associated with loss of self-incompatibility and an extreme bottleneck.
Y.-L. Guo, J. S. Bechsgaard, T. Slotte, B. Neuffer, M. Lascoux, D. Weigel, and M. H. Schierup (2009)
PNAS 106, 5246-5251
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Evidence for Ecological Speciation and Its Alternative.
D. Schluter (2009)
Science 323, 737-741
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Genetic Regulation of Meiotic Cross-Overs between Related Genomes in Brassica napus Haploids and Hybrids.
S. D. Nicolas, M. Leflon, H. Monod, F. Eber, O. Coriton, V. Huteau, A.-M. Chevre, and E. Jenczewski (2009)
PLANT CELL 21, 373-385
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Polyploidy and angiosperm diversification.
D. E. Soltis, V. A. Albert, J. Leebens-Mack, C. D. Bell, A. H. Paterson, C. Zheng, D. Sankoff, C. W. dePamphilis, P. K. Wall, and P. S. Soltis (2009)
Am. J. Botany 96, 336-348
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Darwin's second 'abominable mystery': Why are there so many angiosperm species?.
W. L. Crepet and K. J. Niklas (2009)
Am. J. Botany 96, 366-381
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The strength and genetic basis of reproductive isolating barriers in flowering plants.
D. B Lowry, J. L Modliszewski, K. M Wright, C. A Wu, and J. H Willis (2008)
Phil Trans R Soc B 363, 3009-3021
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The genic view of plant speciation: recent progress and emerging questions.
C. Lexer and A. Widmer (2008)
Phil Trans R Soc B 363, 3023-3036
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Specificity in pollination and consequences for postmating reproductive isolation in deceptive Mediterranean orchids.
S. Cozzolino and G. Scopece (2008)
Phil Trans R Soc B 363, 3037-3046
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Changes to gene expression associated with hybrid speciation in plants: further insights from transcriptomic studies in Senecio.
M. J Hegarty, G. L Barker, A. C Brennan, K. J Edwards, R. J Abbott, and S. J Hiscock (2008)
Phil Trans R Soc B 363, 3055-3069
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Incongruence between cpDNA and nrITS trees indicates extensive hybridization within Eupersicaria (Polygonaceae).
S.-T. Kim and M. J. Donoghue (2008)
Am. J. Botany 95, 1122-1135
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Allopolyploid speciation in Persicaria (Polygonaceae): Insights from a low-copy nuclear region.
S.-T. Kim, S. E. Sultan, and M. J. Donoghue (2008)
PNAS 105, 12370-12375
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Genetic Basis of Developmental Abnormalities in Interpopulation Hybrids of the Moss Ceratodon purpureus.
S. F. McDaniel, J. H. Willis, and A. J. Shaw (2008)
Genetics 179, 1425-1435
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Genomic Plasticity and the Diversity of Polyploid Plants.
A. R. Leitch and I. J. Leitch (2008)
Science 320, 481-483
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »

E-Letters:

Read all E-Letters

A False Batesonian Meme
Donald R. Forsdyke
Science Online, 5 Oct 2007 [Full text]
Response to D. R. Forsdyke’s E-Letter
Loren H. Rieseberg, et al.
Science Online, 11 Oct 2007 [Full text]

To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)