Sophisticated system prevents self-fertilization in petunias
Thursday, January 8, 2015 - 15:01
in Biology & Nature
Plants use genetic mechanisms to prevent inbreeding by recognizing self and non-self pollen. Researchers have now found evidence that a group of 18 male proteins recognize 40 female proteins between them -- in contrast to one-to-one relationships studied to date. The self-recognition mechanism in petunia shows similarities to the immune defense in vertebrates.