Low level of genetic variation within Melica transsilvanica populations from the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland and the Pieniny Mts revealed by AFLPs analysis

Abstract

Fragmented distribution, the breeding system and effects of genetic drift in small-size populations occurring at edge of the species range play an important role in shaping genetic diversity of such a species. Melica transsilvanica is a plant rare in the flora of Poland, where it reaches the northern limit of its continuous range. Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) DNA profiling method was applied to measure genetic diversity among and within populations of M. transsilvanica. Additionally, genetic relationships between M. transsilvanica and Melica ciliata, two closely related species, were explored. A total of 68 plants from 7 populations of M. transsilvanica and 24 plants from 2 populations of M. ciliata, collected in Poland and outside it, were analyzed. Using 294 AFLP fragments from 3 primer combinations, accessions were grouped into two major clusters associating with M. ciliata and M. transsilvanica, respectively. Further, two subclusters, corresponding to the samples collected from the Pieniny Mts and from the KrakówCzêstochowa Upland were clearly distinguished within the M. transsilvanica group. The hierarchical AMOVA exhibited significant genetic distinction between these geographic regions (60.89%, p<0.001). The obtained results showed that the most genetic diversity resided between the populations of M. transsilvanica (86.03%) while considerably lower genetic variation was found within the populations (13.97%), which is consistent with the results reported for self-plants. The low level of AFLP genetic variation of M. transsilvanica can be caused by the geographic isolation of populations, which preserves the dominant self-mating breeding system of the species. Individual populations of M. transsilvanica are characterized by isolated gene pools differing by a small number of loci.

Genetic and morphological differentiation between Melica ciliata L. and M. transsilvanica Schur (Poaceae) in Europe reveals the non-presence of M. ciliata in the Polish flora

“…Resuming findings from the previous papers [24,[43][44][45][46][47][48][49]51,79], own fieldworks conducted in 2005-2011 and currently displayed evidences based on AFLP fingerprinting and morphological data, we can state that M. ciliata L. does not occur in the Polish flora. On the contrary, a detailed analysis of the AFLP band patterns of Sudetian "M. ciliata" clearly showed its genetic identity with M. transsilvanica Schur (see "Results").…”

“…Additionally, both species are able to hybridize in natural habitats that can blur inter-specific morphological differences [42]. However, the previous genetic analyses showed that these species are clearly genetically distinct [43,44]. Thus, we were interested in determining whether combined molecular and morphological data would be effective in distinguishing M. ciliata and M. transsilvanica.…”

Genetic melting pot and importance of long-distance dispersal indicated in the Gladiolus imbricatus L. populations in the Polish Carpathians

“…The high level of among-population diversity was linked with a decreased within-population diversity index ( PLP 3.7%) and nearly total genetic homogeneity. Taken together, the results of the studies on M. transsylvanica in the Pieniny Mts point to the high geographical isolation of the metapopulation in the region and the dominant self-pollinating system of the species is inducing the lack of gene flow 58 .…”

“…A much higher among-population component of diversity (AMOVA) that amounted to 86% displayed a grass, Melica transsilvanica , studied in the Pieniny Mts and Małopolska Upland (southern Poland) 58 . The species has a different ecological profile than G. imbricatus ; it grows on dry, exposed outcrops in pioneer rupicolous grasslands ( Seslerio-Festucion duriusculae alliance in the Pieniny Mts) and in xerothermic grasslands of the Cirsio-Brachypodion pinnati alliance on the Małopolska Upland.…”

RAD sequencing, morphometry and synecology clarify the taxonomy of the Melica ciliata (Poaceae) complex in France and Poland

“…In the M. ciliata complex, low genetic diversity within populations and high differentiation among them were determined (Tyler, 2004;Szczepaniak & Cieślak, 2006, 2007, 2009, and this is confirmed here by high F ST values (Table S2). Consequently, facultative apomixis or even a predominantly autogamous reproduction mode has been suggested for the M. ciliata complex (Tyler, 2004;Szczepaniak & Cieślak, 2007), the latter also supported by features in floral structures, that is, spikelets comprising one fertile floret and two or three diminished florets at the apex, small anthers, and cleistogamous flowers (Szczepaniak & Cieślak, 2007).…”