Experimental Methods to Study Gene Flow

Abstract

Herbicide resistance is an exceptional marker to quantify gene flow. Quantification of pollen-, seed-, and vegetative propagule-mediated gene flow provides key weed biology information. Pollen-mediated gene flow influences the genetic variance within a population, the frequency of multiple or polygenic herbicide resistance, and the evolutionary dynamics of a species. Seed-mediated gene flow predominates in self-pollinating species. Gene flow quantification may enable the estimation of herbicide resistance epicenter, the comparison of the relative importance of gene flow pathways, and prediction of future distribution of resistance traits. Gene flow studies using herbicide resistance also can provide insight into the rates and importance of hybridization.