A cultivated poppy (Papaver sp.) invades wild habitats of Papaver fauriei in the mountain area of Rishiri Island, Japan

Abstract

Many tiny yellow poppies are grown in the town area of Rishiri Island, Japan. Because the phenotype of this cultivated poppy is similar to that of Papaver fauriei, which is endemic to Mt. Rishiri, Rishiri Island, residents on the island call the cultivated poppy ''P. fauriei'' although the origin of the cultivated poppy is uncertain. To estimate the origin of the cultivated poppy, its internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence was compared with those found in the Far East wild poppies P. fauriei, P. alboroseum, P. miyabeanum and P. nudicaule. Although the ITS sequence of the cultivated poppy was not identical to those found in the wild species, it was most similar to that of P. miyabeanum, indicating that the cultivated poppy is not P. fauriei. However, cultivated poppy seeds have been sown several times over a period of at least 20 years in wild P. fauriei habitats on Mt. Rishiri in the hope of aiding the recovery of P. fauriei populations in wild habitats. Poppy plants in the wild habitats where such seeds have been sown showed the same ITS sequences as those of the cultivated poppy, indicating that the cultivated poppy is established in these wild habitats. This is a case of a nonindigenous species being introduced to wild habitats through human actions.

Ability of the endangered species Papaver fauriei to produce hybrids with a cultivated poppy (Papaver sp.)

“…Methods for total DNA isolation, PCR amplification of ITS regions and direct sequencing of the PCR products have been described previously (Yamagishi et al . ).…”

“…During the past 8 years (2008–2015), 240 poppy plants, in total, were found, their leaf segments (approximately 5 mm in length) were collected with permission from the Ministry of the Environment, and ITS regions were sequenced using the same methods as those described previously (Yamagishi et al . ). In addition, the 240 individuals were screened for hybrid plants between P. fauriei and the cultivated poppy using the ITS sequences of the 240 poppy plants.…”

“…The ITS sequences of the cultivated poppies resembled those of P. fauriei and P. miyabeanum and were most similar to the sequences of P. miyabeanum , which is endemic to the Kuril Islands (Yamagishi et al . ). However, because the ITS sequences found in the cultivated poppy were not found in the wild species, we were unable to specify whether the cultivated poppy was P. miyabeanum , P. fauriei or any other Papaver species.…”

“…Thus, this non‐indigenous species was introduced to natural habitats through human actions (Yamagishi et al . ). The cultivated poppy will be removed from the Special Protection Zone to conserve the endangered species.…”

“…Rishiri for a few decades (Yamagishi et al . ). Thus, there is concern that P. fauriei and the cultivated poppy can hybridize in Mt.…”