The effect of self-fertilization, inbreeding depression, and population size on autopolyploid establishment.

The minority cytotype exclusion principle describes how random mating between diploid and autotetraploid cytotypes hinders establishment of the rare cytotype. We present deterministic and stochastic models to ascertain how selfing, inbreeding depression, unreduced gamete production, and finite population size affect minority cytotype exclusion and the establishment of autotetraploids. Results demonstrate that higher selfing rates and lower inbreeding depression in autotetraploids facilitate establishment of autotetraploid populations.