Asymmetric Effects of Loss and Gain of a Floral Trait on Pollinator Preference

摘要: Shifts in pollination syndromes involve coordinated changes multiple floral traits. This raises the question of how plants can cope with rapid pollinator availability by slow process accumulation mutations genes. Here we study transition from bee to hawkmoth genus Petunia. Interspecific crosses followed single locus introgressions were used recreate putative intermediate evolutionary stages evolution moth pollination. The effect loss/gain petal color was asymmetric: it had no influence on established but enhanced visitation new pollinator. Therefore, shifts may proceed through reduced specialization and consequently reproductive assurance. loss moth-pollinated Petunia involves null a regulatory gene, An2. Such simple genetic be sufficiently frequent ensure survival during failure.