Genetic and reproductive characterisation of seasonal flowering morphs ofGentianella bohemicarevealed strong reproductive isolation and possible single origin

Abstract

Phenotypic polymorphism represents the most obvious type of intraspecific diversity raising scientific interest in its evolution and maintenance. We studied the regional endemic Gentianella bohemica, which exhibits an early- and a late-flowering morph. Genetic variation and structuring were investigated in relation to potential pollination and mating system differences, to verify hypotheses of evolutionary integrity, origin, and reproductive isolation of both flowering morphs. We identified the rarer early-flowering morph as an independent genetic entity, being more selfing, likely stronger pollinator-limited and reproductively isolated. All analysed populations showed strong among population differentiation and low overall genetic diversity due to habitat fragmentation and reduced population sizes. These results indicate likely inbreeding, but we also found evidence for possible outbreeding depression in the late-flowering morph. Both G. bohemica morphs are characteristic of traditionally used, nutrient-poor grasslands, but they represent independent conservation units and need temporally adapted management. We, therefore, also briefly discuss our results in the general context of conservation activities in relation to intraspecific polymorphisms and strongly argue for their formal and consequent consideration.

Long-term survival and successful conservation? Low genetic diversity but no evidence for reduced reproductive success at the north-westernmost range edge of Poa badensis (Poaceae) in Central Europe

“…The selective amplifications were then performed with three primer combinations, with each primer containing two additional selective nucleotides (E + ACG/M + CGG [E37/M57], E + AGA/M + CTG [E39/M61], E + ATG/M + CGG [E45/M57]). These combinations have been applied successfully in previous studies (Kropf et al 2003 ; Plenk et al 2016 , 2017 ) and were labelled by three different fluorescence dyes (E37: NED™, E39: 6-FAM™, E45: HEX™). For genotyping, the PCR products were mixed with an internal size standard (ROX™, ET550-R) and run on a MegaBACE DNA Analysis System (Amersham Biosciences, Freiburg, Germany).…”

“…We performed the analyses with and without geographical coordinates of populations as an informative prior. A Bayesian admixture analysis (Corander and Marttinen 2006 ) was calculated using the settings described in Plenk et al ( 2016 ). Genetic differentiation among and within populations/regions was estimated in ARLEQUIN (version 3.5.2.2; Excoffier and Lischer 2010 ) using non-hierarchical and hierarchical analyses of molecular variance (AMOVA; cf.…”

Genetic structuring and diversity patterns along rivers – local invasion history of Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Asteraceae) along the Danube River in Vienna (Austria) shows non‐linear pattern

“…The AFLP procedure (Vos et al ., ) was used with modifications as indicated by Kropf () and Plenk et al . (), including simultaneous restriction with Eco RI and Mse I and ligation for 15 h overnight at 23°C. Selective amplification used two primer combinations (E + 3/M + 3) [fluorescent dye in square brackets; Applied Biosystems, UK]: E+ACG[NED™]/M+CGG (E37/M57) and E+ATG[HEX™]/M+CGG (E45/M57).…”

Development of SSR markers by 454 sequencing in the endemic species Gentianella praecox subsp. bohemica (Gentianaceae)

“…bohemica (Skalický) Holub (IUCN: e.T161825A5500524) is a strictly biennial herb endemic to the Bohemian Massif, with most populations occurring in the Czech Republic but extending to Bavaria (Germany), Upper and Lower Austria, and Poland. Gentianella Moench (Gentianaceae) is a highly diverse and taxonomically complicated genus due to seasonal dimorphism, introgression, and hybridization between closely related species (Winfield et al, 2003; Greimler and Jang, 2007; Plenk et al, 2016). It is expected that G. praecox subsp.…”