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Genetic load and its causes in long-lived plants

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Summary

Many long-lived plant taxa are characterized by relatively high genetic load levels. This genetic load is manifested as the proportion of offspring that are physiologically handicapped to various degrees. It is proposed that the majority of this load is mutational load and is a consequence of the higher per generation mutation rates that occur in long-lived plants. Higher per generation mutation rates are a result of the chemostat-like accumulation of mutations in the apical initials as the plant grows. Genetic load, therefore, is a function of the postzygotic accumulation of mutations as well as mutations inherited from previous generations.

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  1. Botany Department, University of Massachusetts, 01003, Amherst, MA, USA

    Edward J. Klekowski Jr

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Klekowski, E.J. Genetic load and its causes in long-lived plants. Trees 2, 195–203 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00202374

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