MOLECULAR MARKERS AND EXPERIMENTAL POLLINATIONS REVEAL SELF-FERTILITYAND HIGH-LEVELS OF NATURAL INBREEDING IN THE NEW-ZEALAND ENDEMIC TREEVITEX LUCENS (PURIRI)

The breeding system of the New Zealand endemic tree Vitex lucens (puri ri) (Labiatae) was investigated using controlled pollinations and pate rnity analysis with RAPD and microsatellite markers. Experimental poll inations demonstrated that puriri is physiologically capable of produc ing fruit and viable seed from both selfed and outcrossed flowers. A l ow level of autogamous seed set was also observed, suggesting that at least occasional seed set is possible in the absence of pollinators. P olymorphic RAPD and microsatellite markers were developed for puriri a nd used to confirm the parentage of seedlings from experimental self a nd outcrossed pollinations. Paternity analysis of 18 seedlings from na turally pollinated drupes collected from a single tree revealed that a high proportion of these progeny were likely to be the result of self -pollination. These results are the first demonstration that puriri is capable of both self- and cross-fertilisation, and that in nature pur iri has a mixed breeding system, with high levels of self-fertilisatio n possible. The molecular markers developed in this project will be us eful tools for future puriri genetic studies.