I think the depends on your genotype-phenotype map. It’s hypothesized that sexual reproduction helps drive modularity because evolution needs to solve the problem of how to bring together two genetically different individuals and still come out with a viable offspring. This is why robustness is so entwined with evolvability. If your genotype-phenotype map is simple then robustness doesn’t need to evolve but this may limit evolvability. The thing I always found with with evolution is that there is no free lunch.

Cliff-hanger! Can you elaborate on why asexual reproduction might perform better?

My theory is that sexual reproduction focuses genes on performance in a stable environment, and asexual reproduction grows to encompass the entire gamut of every survivable environment.

When you don't know the traits that are beneficial in an environment, a significant change adversely affects all sexually reproduced algorithms to a significant degree, whereas it affects all asexually produced algorithms at varying degrees.

>Sexual reproduction sucks.

There is a joke to be made here.

Plants just wanna have fun?