Apomixis may be widespread among trees of the climax rain forest

摘要: THE exceptional species diversity of tropical rain forests is well known; these the lowland Malay Peninsula are among richest1. This, and size trees, pose obvious difficulties for maintenance pan-mixis, tempt speculation on processes by which such has evolved may now be favoured. Fedorov2 suggested that natural selection low self-pollination prevalent, favouring random genetic drift. Prevalence drift, or apomixis—agamospermy—would contradict Ashton's3 view that, given a stable environment, evolution proceeds through ecotypic differentiation while accrues ever increasing niche specialisation; this to correct, variability within breeding groups would essential. Solid evidence been meagre but there evidence4 polymorphism, hence heterozygosity, common in emergent tree Shorea leprosula Miq., Xerospermum intermedium Radlk., an undeirstorey species. The pattern spatial variation consistent with outbreeders predominantly short-range pollen fruit dispersal accompanied heterogeneity gene frequencies. However, both trees minimal isolation. We report occurrence apomixis some other forest trees.