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Abstract Detail


Population Genetics

Koelling, Vanessa [1], Monnahan, Patrick [1], Kelly, John [1].

Estimating outcrossing rate and inbreeding depression from marker data when family sizes are small.

Accurate measures of population outcrossing rates and inbreeding depression are required to fully understand the evolution of plantmating systems because different population outcomes are predicted under different conditions. One approach to estimate outcrossing rates and inbreeding depression is to estimate the outcrossing rate (t) and inbreeding coefficient(F) from the same genetic marker data. Since inbreeding depression reduces the homozygosity of adult plants relative to predictions based on the outcrossing rate, under various assumptions, the magnitude of the discrepancy between the observed and predicted F can be used to estimate the relative fitness of inbred and outbred plants. This method is ideal because it allows for estimates under natural conditions. t and F are typically estimated from progeny arrays. The ideal experimental design for estimating the joint distribution of t and F is to sample more parents and fewer offspring per family. However, the software most widely used to estimate these values, MLTR, does not perform well below family sizes of eight. To address this problem, we developed a Bayesian estimation program for t and F that gives accurate estimates with family sizes as small as four. We believe this program will significantly advance the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of studies in the evolution of plant mating systems.

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1 - University of Kansas, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 1200 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA

Keywords:
outcrossing rate
inbreeding depression
mating system evolution
Bayesian estimation.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Topics
Session: 26
Location: Portland Room/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Tuesday, July 12th, 2011
Time: 11:15 AM
Number: 26013
Abstract ID:66


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