The ecology of polyploid establishment and exclusion, with implications for polyploid biogeography

Abstract

The relationship between polyploid formation, triploid fitness and plant reproduction has been studied for over a century, and uniparental reproduction has long been recognized to play a crucial role in polyploid establishment. Yet, we lack a synthesized framework of how polyploid establishment is expected to be influenced by different reproductive modes among angiosperms. Here, we provide new perspectives on how uniparental reproduction, pollination ecology, triploid fitness and assortative mating can impact minority cytotype exclusion (MCE) and, thereby, the likelihood of polyploid establishment. We review the current state of knowledge of the reproductive mechanisms that impact polyploid establishment and discuss often overlooked aspects of these processes, such as the influence of pollinator communities on rates of self-pollination. We propose a framework for considering how variation in reproductive strategies and pollinator communities can impact the ability of a polyploid to overcome MCE. Finally, we propose links between patterns of variation in uniparental reproduction across plant communities and observed patterns in the distribution and abundance of polyploids.