XVI International Botanical Congess

Given the high mortality of fertilized ovules in plants, early selection should play an important role in shaping the genetic composition of plant populations. Despite evidence for the selective survival of progeny in annual plant species, few attempts have been made to identify and understand the magnitude and timing of viability selection. Platypodium elegans, a neotropical tree with high rates of embryo mortality and large aborted fruits and embryos, represents an opportunity to study viability selection at a level of discernment not previously possible. Microsatellite markers were used to analyze the genetic composition of aborted embryos, as well as mature seeds and seedlings. These analyses determined the extent and timing of selection and effects on the genetic composition of this species.