Cross-fertility in two tropical tree species: evidence of inbreeding depression within populations and genetic divergence among populations

Knowing the spatial patterns of cross-fertility in natural plant populations yields key insight into biparental inbreeding depression, isolation by distance, and, ultimately, speciation. Three adults each of two tropical tree species (Syzygium rubicundum and Shorea cordifolia) were each crossed with five conspecific pollen donors ranging from self to trees occurring in separate forest reserves (12 and 35 km distance for S. rubicundum and Sh. cordifolia, respectively). Cross-fertility was estimated as fruit set, seed germination, and seedling survivorship and height at 1 yr. Means of most cross-fertility measures increased steadily with outcrossing distance, peaking at 1–2 km for S. rubicundum and 1–10 km for Sh. cordifolia, and then declining at the betweenforest crosses. However, seed germination and seedling height for Sh. cordifolia suggested hybrid vigor in between-forest crosses. The mean fitness cost of nearest-neighbor mating relative to crossing with more distant neighbors was 45% for S. rubicundum and 0% for Sh. cordifolia. The mean fitness cost of between-forest crosses was 52% and 70% for the two species. Crossing effects on fitness diminished between the stages of fruit set and 1-yr-old seedlings. Results indicate a strong potential for inbreeding depression within forest tree populations and partial reproductive isolation among forests in Sri Lankaʹs wet zone.