Inbreeding coefficients in six species of Ainsliaea and two species of Pertya (Asteraceae)

As a basis for comparative studies of mating systems, we estimated genetic diversities and inbreeding coefficients for six perennial species of Ainsliaea and two shrubby species of Pertya (Asteraceae). These related species are known to vary from frequent cleistogamy to xenogamy by bumblebee pollination, and we examined allozyme variation in these species to describe mating system variation in further detail. Significant heterozygote deficit was found in five species, while no heterozygote deficit was found in three species. A cleistogamous species showed no genetic polymorphism. Multilocus average of inbreeding coefficients among seven species ranged from -0.12 to 0.78. These findings indicated that related species can vary from predominant selfers to predominant outcrossers under perennial life cycles.