Evolution of mating systems in the Brassicaceae. The SI system in the genus Diplotaxis

Herbert Hurka, Barbara Neuffer, Corinna Laschke

Major objectives of the research program are the evolution of the self-incompatibility mating system (SI) in the Brassicaceae, and the question of origin and age of self-compatible (SC) species. Present knowledge of the SI system at the molecular level within the genera Brassica, Arabidopsis, and Capsella open such an evolutionary approach. There is urgent need to analyse more wild species to uncover the evolutionary pathways of the SI system within the family. Analyses of natural populations are necessary to understand the ecological functions of the SI system. The present study concentrates on the genus Diplotaxis, a close relative to Brassica.