Abstract
Estimates of mating system parameters such as outcrossing rate (tm) and relatedness are relevant to understanding the behavior and ecology of a population. Molecular markers are used to estimate mating system parameters. The standard marker to achieve these estimates has long been microsatellite markers. However, microsatellites have seen a decline in use in population genetic studies in favour of newer technology – Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). This study is the first to compare the use of microsatellite and SNP methodologies to estimate mating system parameters for naturally pollinated families of a native Australian plant, using Aluta quadrata as a proof of concept. Though progeny individuals differed between SNP and microsatellite datasets due to time constraints. Aluta quadrata mating system analysis derived from multilocus assessment (MLTR) for microsatellite data revealed a mean outcrossing rate of 0.71 whereas similar analysis through Bayesian estimation (BORICE) for SNP data revealed a mean outcrossing rate of 0.94 with most families called as fully outcrossed. The range of outcrossing rates for the microsatellite dataset (tm= 0.25 - 0.97) appear to have some geographic basis that can be further investigated. Large differences in mating system parameter estimates between microsatellites and SNP datasets were found, which may be attributed to a combination of biological and technical challenges encountered within this study that are yet to be resolved. Future research can focus on resolving these challenges and quantifying the effect of them following suggestions set out in this work. The findings of this study add to a body of research of mating system parameters, considerations of tools used to estimate these parameters especially for the use of natural populations and underline the importance of tracking the changing mating system of Aluta quadrata.