The unusual S locus of Leavenworthia is composed of two sets of paralogous loci

What is it about?

Self-incompatibility (SI) is the reproductive system in flowering plants that fosters detection of self-pollen and consequent avoidance of inbreeding. In plants belonging to the Mustard family (Brassicaceae) it had been thought that SI evolved only once. Here we report evidence that some plants in this family possess two different sets of genes that each are involved in SI, suggesting that SI may have evolved more than once in this family. This finding has implications for our understanding of the evolution of SI.

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