Combining rare alleles and grouped pollen donors to assign paternity in pollen dispersal studies.

PREMISE

Pollen dispersal plays a critical role in gene flow of seed plants. Most often, pollen dispersal is measured using paternity assignment. However, this approach can be time-consuming because it typically entails genotyping all pollen donors, receptors, and offspring at several molecular markers.

METHODS

We developed a faster, simpler protocol to track paternity, using pollen receptors and grouped pollen donors that possess rare alleles. We tested this approach using wind-pollinated and insect-pollinated . After screening potential markers for rare alleles, we grew both species in experimental arrays under field conditions.

RESULTS

All tested . seeds and 97% of . fruits could be assigned to the grouped pollen donors using each of two markers. From these results, we could infer paternity of untested offspring and assess pollen dispersal patterns in each array.

DISCUSSION

By combining rare alleles and grouped pollen donors, we could assess pollen dispersal for both species and across all arrays after genotyping a small number of pollen donors and a representative subset of offspring. While directly applicable to and , this approach could be used in other species to assess pollen dispersal under field conditions.