Abstract—The purpose of this study was to quantify the shape and compare fluctuating asymmetry (FA), as a random deviations from perfect bilateral symmetry of flowers of five species of plant. The shape analysis was based on the Procrustes method. The aligned shapes were used and treated in TPS series tpsDig, tpsUtil and tpsRegr. The first task was to test the index of fluctuating asymmetry using a 2 way ANOVA of homologous points to identify the most suitable species for testing developmental stability in unfavourable environments. The second task included the analysis of the homologous bilaterally-symmetrical distances in comparison to the index of fluctuating asymmetry. Fluctuating asymmetry showed a small fraction of the variability in flower shape. One species (Digitalis purpurea L.) showed the highest level of FA indicating deviation from developmental stability. The index of FA data on homologous landmarks corresponded to the data on fluctuating asymmetry index of distances.

Index Terms—Fluctuating asymmetry, shape analysis, procrustes method.

S. G. Baranov is with Vladimir State University, Russia. Professor University UDOM, Tanzania (e-mail: bar.serg58@gmail.com).
D. E. Gavrikov is wth e-Learning Department, East-Siberian State Academy of Education, Russia (e-mail: dega.irk@gmail.com).

 

Cite:S. G. Baranov and D. E. Gavrikov, "Use of TPS Software for Studying Fluctuating Asymmetry in Flowers," International Journal of Bioscience, Biochemistry and Bioinformatics vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 284-287, 2013.