Abstract.
The diffusion approximation is derived for migration and selection at a multiallelic locus in a partially selfing plant population subdivided into a lattice of colonies. Generations are discrete and nonoverlapping; both pollen and seeds disperse. In the diffusion limit, the genotypic frequencies at each point are those determined at equilibrium by the local rate of selfing and allelic frequencies. If the drift and diffusion coefficients are taken as the appropriate linear combination of the corresponding coefficients for pollen and seeds, then the migration terms in the partial differential equation for the allelic frequencies have the standard form for a monoecious animal population. The selection term describes selection on the local genotypic frequencies. The boundary conditions and the unidimensional transition conditions for a geographical barrier and for coincident discontinuities in the carrying capacity and migration rate have the standard form. In the diallelic case, reparametrization renders the entire theory of clines and of the wave of advance of favorable alleles directly applicable to plant populations.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received 30 August 1995; received in revised form 23 February 1996
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nagylaki, T. The diffusion model for migration and selection in a plant population. J Math Biol 35, 409–431 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002850050059
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002850050059