Genetic diversity among genotypes ofEryngium viviparum(Apiaceae): a plant threatened throughout its natural range

Abstract

Eryngium viviparum (Apiaceae) is an endangered aquatic plant, listed as threatened in several European documents. The genotypes are distributed patchily in various wetlands in the north-west of Spain and one is located in north-west France. The study of the genetic diversity of a small population of a rare species is important for conservation and studies aimed at recovery programmes. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to assess the genetic diversity among five Spanish and one French genotype. This technique has contributed to the knowledge of the genetic diversity in E. viviparum, showing a greater genetic distance between the Spanish cluster formed by S1, S4 than the second cluster formed by S2, S3, S5 and the French genotype. Mantel testing did not show a significant correlation between genetic and geographical distances, but a significant correlation was found between altitude, habitat and genetic distance. The French genotype showed the highest level of polymorphism (28.16) and the highest percentage of exclusive markers (32%). One of these was isolated, purified, cloned and sequenced, revealing a high homology to a protein mainly expressed in roots. This could represent, for the F genotype, an adaptation to a specific habitat near the sea compared with the Spanish genotypes which grow inland.

Phytochemical Constituents and Pharmacological Activities of Eryngium L. (Apiaceae)

“…Coult. & Rose) Mathias & Constance, E. constancei Sheikh, E. cuneifolium Small, E. viviparum [4][5][6][7]. Wolff's (1913) treatment of Eryngium is the most comprehensive and predominant: two groups were recognized within the genus Eryngium: "Species gerontogeae" representing 12 sections from the Old World (Africa, Europe, and Asia) and "Species americanae and australienses" including 22 sections from the New World (Americas and Australia) [8].…”

Genetic consequences of long-term isolation for the last French population of Eryngium viviparum (Apiaceae)

“…Consistent with the low dispersal ability of the species, but despite the putative contribution of genetic drift, isolation by distance revealed that geographical distance appears to be a major component of the genetic differentiation among populations. The French population appears less distant from the North Iberian populations, as suggested by Rodriguez-Gacio et al (2009) with RAPD analyses. This relative genetic proximity is probably the result of a common biogeographical history.…”

Morphometric characterization of Eryngium viviparum (Umbelliferae): description of a new subspecies from the Iberian Peninsula

“…1). Nevertheless, recent molecular data on this population has shown that the genetic distance between the Atlantic subpopulations (Galicia and Brittany) is lower than the distance between the Spanish subpopulations (Galicia and Castile-León) (Rodríguez-Gacio et al 2009). Moreover, the monitoring of the northwest Iberian subpopulations has revealed morphological differences between them.…”