Apomixis is not prevalent in subnival to nival plants of the European Alps

Abstract

The occurrence of apomixis is not correlated to high altitudes, and cannot be readily explained by selective forces due to environmental conditions. The investigated species have probably other adaptations to high altitudes to maintain reproductive assurance via sexuality.

We hypothesize that shifts to apomixis are rather connected to frequencies of polyploidization than to ecological conditions.

Keywords

• Apomixis
• endosperm
• flow cytometric seed screen