A lectin receptor-like kinase controls self-pollen recognition in (Polemoniaceae).

Self-incompatibility (SI) describes a widespread collection of genetic mechanisms in flowering plants used to specifically recognize and reject self-pollen. These mechanisms are fundamental to plant sexual reproduction and offer valuable insight into the molecular basis of cell-cell communication and self-recognition more broadly. Here, we leverage an independent evolution of SI in the lineage containing (Polemoniaceae) to characterize a novel gene causing self-pollen recognition which we name Pistil Identity Receptor Kinase ( ). Recognition of self-pollen associates with a single genomic region containing the -locus. We generate predictions regarding how -loci must function and evolve to identify a single candidate gene within this -associated region. This gene, , is highly and specifically expressed in the pistil and has exceptionally high polymorphism maintained by negative frequency dependent selection, two hallmarks of self-pollen recognition genes. Functional validation with gene silencing confirms that is necessary for self-incompatibility, and we further demonstrate allele specific activity, confirming its role in self-pollen recognition per se. encodes a G-type lectin receptor-like kinase, which is a member of the same gene family as , the gene controlling self-pollen recognition in the distantly related Brassicaceae. Our findings suggest the presence of genetic constraints or paths of least resistance governing how -loci evolve and add to our understanding of the diverse molecular mechanisms through which organisms achieve self-recognition.