Heterogeneity of clonal patterns among patches of kudzu,Pueraria montanavar. lobata, an invasive plant

Abstract

Background and Aims Viny species are among the most serious invasive plants, and better knowledge of how vines grow to dominate landscapes is needed. Patches may contain a single genotype (i.e. genet), a competitively dominant genet or many independent but interacting genets, yet the clonal structure of vining species is often not apparent. Molecular markers can discriminate among the genetic identities of entwined vines to reveal the number and spatial distribution of genets. This study investigated how genets are spatially distributed within and among discrete patches of the invasive vine kudzu, Pueraria montana var. lobata, in the United States. It was expected that ramets of genets would be spatially clustered within patches, and that an increase in the number of genets within a patch would be associated with a decrease in the average size of each genet.Methods Six discrete kudzu patches were sampled across 2 years, and 1257 samples were genotyped at 21 polymorphic allozyme loci. Variation in genotypic and genetic diversity among patches was quantified and patterns of genet interdigitation were analysed.Key Results Substantial genotypic and genetic variation occurred within and among patches. As few as ten overlapping genets spanned up to 68 m 2 in one patch, while >90 % of samples were genetically unique in another patch. Genotypic diversity within patches increased as mean clone size decreased, although spatially widespread genets did not preclude interdigitation. Eight genets were shared across !2 patches, suggesting that vegetative dispersal can occur among patches.Conclusions Genetically unique kudzu vines are highly interdigitated. Multiple vegetative propagules have become established in spatially discrete patches, probably through the movement of highway construction or maintenance machinery. The results suggest that common methods for controlling invasive vines (e.g. mowing) may inadvertently increase genotypic diversity. Thus, understanding vine architecture and growth has practical implications.

Clonal growth strategy, diversity and structure: A spatiotemporal response to sedimentation in tropical Cyperus papyrus swamps

“…A high Dc and low contemporary ramet densit y in LSR might also be attributed to the influence of asymmetrical competition between clones of different sizes, which amplifies loss of genets and decrease in genotypic diversity [ 78 ]. Under a relatively stable sediment regime (LSR), the founder effect of a few dominant clones may have shaped clonal structure through selection of superior clones and clonal integration [ 28 , 79 , 80 ]. According to the "general-purpose hypothesis", persistence and resilience are common features of large clones [ 79 , 81 ].…”

De novo transcriptome assembly of Pueraria montana var. lobata and Neustanthus phaseoloides for the development of eSSR and SNP markers: narrowing the US origin(s) of the invasive kudzu

“…With the abilities to grow over 12 in. per day and root at the nodes, a kudzu patch may likely represent only one or a few genets [ 43 ]. Therefore, the reported clonal sampling of Bentley and Mauricio [ 15 ] may be the cause of the near 0.0 observed heterozygosities and may not be indicative of the primers themselves.…”

Large contribution of clonal reproduction to the distribution of deciduous liana species (Wisteria floribunda) in an old-growth cool temperate forest: evidence from genetic analysis

“…Clonal analysis using genetic tools such as microsatellite markers is an effective approach for the precise evaluation of clonal reproduction in lianas. Although some previous studies have applied genetic analysis to some liana species (Foster and Sork, 1997;Grashof-Bokdam et al, 1998;Arnold and Schnitzler, 2010;Kartzinel et al, 2015), these studies were either conducted in rural ecosystems and disturbed forests, and/ or were based on non-continuous sampling within small plots. To the best of our knowledge, no studies have conducted genetic analyses on lianas with a focus on the contribution of clonal reproduction to regeneration processes and distribution patterns under natural conditions.…”