The ability of organisms to produce genetic variation for any trait, including resistance to pathogens, is partially determined by breeding system. I used enzyme electrophoresis, crossing experiments, and cytology to assess the breeding systems of co-occurring Arabis species that are often infected by rust fungi. The Arabis holboellii surveyed were pseudogamous apomicts with relatively high population-level allozyme variation, and variable chromosome numbers(2n, 3n, 4n). Arabis gunnisoniana (3n) and Arabis lignifera (2n) were also pseudogamous but showed no allozyme variation either at the population level, or within progeny arrays. Arabis hirsuta may be an autogamous polyploid or it may be a pseudogamous apomict; more work is needed to clarify the breeding system of this species. Arabis drummondii and Arabis crandallii were sexual, but exhibited little genetic variability due to a predominance of self-fertilization. The use of several techniques was necessary to evaluate these breeding systems. Insect exclusion indicated when pollen was necessary for seed set, but could not differentiate between sexual reproduction and pseudogamy. Electrophoresis yielded information on the degree of selfing (as evidenced by homozygosity) and apomixis (fixed heterozygosity), but could not differentiate between autogamy and apomixis in polyploids without allozyme variation. Pseudogamy was confirmed when crosses between dissimilar genotypes yielded only the maternal genotype, and cytologically by irregular meiosis.
