Self-compatibility in yeast is selected for reproductive assurance not population-level compatibility

In haploid species, sexual reproduction by selfing lacks the common benefits from recombination and is indistinguishable from asexual reproduction at the genetic level. Nevertheless, the evolution of self-compatibility, known as homothallism in organisms with mating types, has occurred hundreds of times in fungi. Two main hypotheses have been proposed for the evolution of homothallism. First, that homothallism offers reproductive assurance, which is especially important when species have an obligatory sexual phase in their lifecycle. Second, that homothallism is associated with population-level compatibility, increasing the chance of outbreeding. Here, we test these hypotheses using the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, which is homothallic by mating-type switching, leveraging natural variation for switching efficiency in this species. Combining empirical tests with cellular automaton simulations, we show that homothallism by switching increases mating success of switching genotypes, but does not affect population-level compatibility. Experiments show that outcrossing is actually reduced under homothallism. This reduction in outcrossing is explained by our simulations, which show that due to local mating, gametes that mated through intraclonal selfing are no longer available for outcrossing. Our results suggest that the recurrent evolution of haploid self-compatibility is likely driven by selection for mating assurance, not to increase the potential for outcrossing.

Automated summary

In haploid species, selfing lacks the benefits from recombination and is similar to asexual reproduction at the genetic level. However, homothallism (self-compatibility) has evolved multiple times in fungi. Two hypotheses have been proposed for the evolution of homothallism: reproductive assurance and population-level compatibility. In this study, by using the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the researchers found that homothallism by mating-type switching increased mating success but reduced outcrossing, suggesting that the recurrent evolution of haploid self-compatibility is likely driven by selection for mating assurance rather than enhancing outcrossing potential.