First evidence for backcrossing of F1 hybrids in Acropora corals under sperm competition
Abstract Acropora is a species-rich genus of reef-building corals with highly diverse morphologies. Hybridization among intercrossing species potentially influences species diversity within Acropora. However, the mechanisms that allow hybridization/backcrossing remain unknown. Although we tested a l...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08989-1 |
| _version_ | 1811272240625352704 |
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| author | Seiya Kitanobo Kenji Iwao Hironobu Fukami Naoko Isomura Masaya Morita |
| author_facet | Seiya Kitanobo Kenji Iwao Hironobu Fukami Naoko Isomura Masaya Morita |
| author_sort | Seiya Kitanobo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Acropora is a species-rich genus of reef-building corals with highly diverse morphologies. Hybridization among intercrossing species potentially influences species diversity within Acropora. However, the mechanisms that allow hybridization/backcrossing remain unknown. Although we tested a limited number of species, we hypothesized that Acropora gametes in the Indo-Pacific may preferentially fertilize conspecific gametes despite their compatibility with heterospecific gametes, leading to infrequent hybridization between potentially intercrossing species. In this study, F1 hybrids of Acropora florida and A. intermedia showed specific fertilization trends. For example, sperm had the ability to backcross with the parental species even in the presence of sperm from the parental species. Also, eggs of the hybrids produced from A. florida eggs and A. intermedia sperm (“FLOint”) exhibited self-fertilization. Since a low ratio of hybridization between A. florida and A. intermedia is predicted, the population size of hybrids should be small. Therefore, self-fertilization would facilitate reproduction of the hybrid in nature, while remaining sperm could outcompete parental species sperm to backcross with eggs. Although we succeeded in breeding two colonies of hybrids, it is reasonable to speculate that hybrids show a high tendency to choose the most efficient sexual reproduction tactics. |
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-02d2b7f8cdd94c6b942a038e1267a0ad |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T22:36:44Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-02d2b7f8cdd94c6b942a038e1267a0ad2022-12-22T03:13:50ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-03-011211810.1038/s41598-022-08989-1First evidence for backcrossing of F1 hybrids in Acropora corals under sperm competitionSeiya Kitanobo0Kenji Iwao1Hironobu Fukami2Naoko Isomura3Masaya Morita4Tropical Biosphere Research Center, Sesoko Station, University of the RyukyusAkajima Marine Science LaboratoryDepartment of Marine Biology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of MiyazakiDepartment of Bioresources Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Okinawa CollegeTropical Biosphere Research Center, Sesoko Station, University of the RyukyusAbstract Acropora is a species-rich genus of reef-building corals with highly diverse morphologies. Hybridization among intercrossing species potentially influences species diversity within Acropora. However, the mechanisms that allow hybridization/backcrossing remain unknown. Although we tested a limited number of species, we hypothesized that Acropora gametes in the Indo-Pacific may preferentially fertilize conspecific gametes despite their compatibility with heterospecific gametes, leading to infrequent hybridization between potentially intercrossing species. In this study, F1 hybrids of Acropora florida and A. intermedia showed specific fertilization trends. For example, sperm had the ability to backcross with the parental species even in the presence of sperm from the parental species. Also, eggs of the hybrids produced from A. florida eggs and A. intermedia sperm (“FLOint”) exhibited self-fertilization. Since a low ratio of hybridization between A. florida and A. intermedia is predicted, the population size of hybrids should be small. Therefore, self-fertilization would facilitate reproduction of the hybrid in nature, while remaining sperm could outcompete parental species sperm to backcross with eggs. Although we succeeded in breeding two colonies of hybrids, it is reasonable to speculate that hybrids show a high tendency to choose the most efficient sexual reproduction tactics.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08989-1 |
| spellingShingle | Seiya Kitanobo Kenji Iwao Hironobu Fukami Naoko Isomura Masaya Morita First evidence for backcrossing of F1 hybrids in Acropora corals under sperm competition Scientific Reports |
| title | First evidence for backcrossing of F1 hybrids in Acropora corals under sperm competition |
| title_full | First evidence for backcrossing of F1 hybrids in Acropora corals under sperm competition |
| title_fullStr | First evidence for backcrossing of F1 hybrids in Acropora corals under sperm competition |
| title_full_unstemmed | First evidence for backcrossing of F1 hybrids in Acropora corals under sperm competition |
| title_short | First evidence for backcrossing of F1 hybrids in Acropora corals under sperm competition |
| title_sort | first evidence for backcrossing of f1 hybrids in acropora corals under sperm competition |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08989-1 |
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