Origin of the invasive Arundo donax (Poaceae): a trans-Asian expedition in herbaria

Hardion, Laurent; Verlaque, Régine; Saltonstall, Kristin; Leriche, Agathe; Vila, Bruno

doi:10.1093/aob/mcu143

Cited by 94 publications

(102 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…For a number of different taxa, the study of ancient or historical DNA extracted from archaeozoological remains and older archival specimens has proven key in addressing questions of autochthony versus allochthony (32,33) and in tracing human-mediated dispersal (34,35). In this study we investigate the mitochondrial DNA of modern and archival specimens (13th-20th century) collected across the black francolin's current and historical range to elucidate the enigmatic origin of the now extinct F. francolinus in the western Mediterranean ( Fig.…”

Section: The Black Francolin In the Mediterraneanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of biological globalization in the Mediterranean: Unveiling the deep history of human-mediated gamebird dispersal

Forcina

Guerrini

Grouw

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Humans have a long history of moving wildlife that over time has resulted in unprecedented biotic homogenization. It is, as a result, often unclear whether certain taxa are native to a region or naturalized, and how the history of human involvement in species dispersal has shaped present-day biodiversity. Although currently an eastern Palaearctic galliform, the black francolin (Francolinus francolinus) was known to occur in the western Mediterranean from at least the time of Pliny the Elder, if not earlier. During Medieval times and the Renaissance, the black francolin was a courtly gamebird prized not only for its flavor, but also its curative, and even aphrodisiac qualities. There is uncertainty, however, whether this important gamebird was native or introduced to the region and, if the latter, what the source of introduction into the western Mediterranean was. Here we combine historical documentation with a DNA investigation of modern birds and archival (13th-20th century) specimens from across the species' current and historically documented range. Our study proves the black francolin was nonnative to the western Mediterranean, and we document its introduction from the east via several trade routes, some reaching as far as South Asia. This finding provides insight into the reach and scope of long-distance trade routes that serviced the demand of European aristocracy for exotic species as symbols of wealth and prestige, and helps to demonstrate the lasting impact of human-mediated long-distance species dispersal on current day biodiversity.

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Section: The Black Francolin In the Mediterraneanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of biological globalization in the Mediterranean: Unveiling the deep history of human-mediated gamebird dispersal

Forcina

Guerrini

Grouw

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…Thus, the natural variability in existing populations may occur following spontaneous mutations selected by natural pressure (Cosentino, Copani, D'Agosta, Sanzone, & Mantineo, 2006). Despite the low genetic diversity revealed in a few studies using molecular markers (Ahmad, Liow, Spencer, & Jasieniuk, 2008;Hardion, Verlaque, Baumel, Juin, & Vila, 2012;Hardion, Verlaque, Saltonstall, Leriche, & Vila, 2014;Mariani et al, 2010;Pilu et al, 2014), heritable phenotypic differences have been described in growth-related traits (Cosentino et al, 2006;Pilu et al, 2014). For this reason, ecotype selection remains important for genetic improvement of A. donax (Corno et al, 2014;Pilu et al, 2013).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of phenology, physiology, morphology and biomass traits across a broad Euro‐Mediterranean ecotypic panel of the lignocellulosic feedstock Arundo donax

Fabbrini

Ludovisi

Alasia³

et al. 2018

GCB Bioenergy

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Giant reed (Arundo donax L.) is a perennial rhizomatous grass, which has attracted great attention as a potential lignocellulosic feedstock for bioethanol production due to high biomass yield in marginal land areas, high polysaccharide content and low inhibitor levels in microbial fermentations. However, little is known about the trait variation that is available across a broad ecotypic panel of A. donax nor the traits that contribute most significantly to yield and growth in drought prone environments. A collection of 82 ecotypes of A. donax sampled across the Mediterranean basin was planted in a common garden experimental field in Savigliano, Italy. We analysed the collection using 367 clumps representing replicate plantings of 82 ecotypes for variation in 21 traits important for biomass accumulation and to identify the particular set of ecotypes with the most promising potential for biomass production. We measured morpho‐physiological, phenological and biomass traits and analysed causal relationships between traits and productivity characteristics assessed at leaf and canopy levels. The results identified differences among the 82 ecotypes for all studied traits: those showing the highest level of variability included stomatal resistance, stem density (StN), stem dry mass (StDM) and total biomass production (TotDM). Multiple regression analysis revealed that leaf area index, StDM, StN, number of nodes per stem, stem height and diameter were the most significant predictors of TotDM and the most important early selection criteria for bioenergy production from A. donax. These traits were used in a hierarchical cluster analysis to identify groups of similar ecotypes, and a selection was made of promising ecotypes for multiyear and multisite testing for biomass production. Heritability estimates were significant for all traits. The potential of this ecotype collection as a resource for studies of germplasm diversity and for the analysis of traits underpinning high productivity of A. donax is highlighted.

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“…Arundo donax L. (giant reed) is a persistent plant widespread in sub‐tropical and temperate regions all over the world (Hardion, Verlaque, Baumel, Juin, & Vila, ; Hardion, Verlaque, Saltonstall, Leriche, & Vila, ; Mariani et al, ). It has been cultivated for thousands of years in Asia, southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All these features have eased its diffusion especially along the coasts. Mediterranean populations are spread prevalently through the dispersal of culm and rhizome fragments, but viable seeds are not detected (Danin & Naenny, ; Hardion et al, ; Mariani et al, ; Pilu, Badone, & Michela, ). The sterility is a serious impediment to the improvement of crops because it reduces the generation of genetic variability and it is a limitation in breeding programmes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The sterility is a serious impediment to the improvement of crops because it reduces the generation of genetic variability and it is a limitation in breeding programmes. Molecular studies have investigated the genetic relationship within A. donax , suggesting an Asian origin of the species (Hardion et al, ; Mariani et al, ). Giant reed has likely spread from Asia to other continents and only recently it has increased its genetic diversity due to multiple introduction events (Malone, Virtue, Williams, & Preston, ; Tarin et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Multiple evolutionary lineages detected in giant reed (Arundo donax L.): Applied and evolutionary perspectives

Zecca

Tommasi

Grassi

2020

Annals of Applied Biology

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Identification of independent evolutionary lineages is a modern challenge for biologists especially in crops with high potential. Molecular methods, usually used to explore intraspecific variation, also offer important information regarding how and when lineages have evolved and spread. Today, several tools to define the demarcation of lineages based on single or multi-locus data are available, permitting objective results to be obtained. We tested nuclear and plastid loci using five different approaches to delimit the major lineages and estimate the divergence times in giant reed (Arundo donax L.). It is an emerging energy crop, widespread in sub-tropical and temperate regions but particularly aggressive outside its native range. Our results support the presence of six lineages distributed from the Asian regions to the Mediterranean basin and indicate the western and southern edges of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as the putative area of origin and source of ancient and cryptic lineages. We suppose it could be an area that has fertile populations. These results should be considered in breeding programmes to produce new cultivars, especially because the absence of fertility for Mediterranean giant reed lineages reduces the opportunity of crop improvement. Moreover, the description of multiple lineages and identifying its putative ancestral area may be helpful to researchers working on invasiveness management, phytoremediation programmes and conservation biology.

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Origin of the invasive Arundo donax (Poaceae): a trans-Asian expedition in herbaria

Abstract: Using an integrative approach, an ancient dispersion of this robust, polyploid and non-fruiting clone is hypothesized from the Middle East to the west, leading to its invasion throughout the Mediterranean Basin.

Cited by 94 publications

References 53 publications

Impacts of biological globalization in the Mediterranean: Unveiling the deep history of human-mediated gamebird dispersal

Impacts of biological globalization in the Mediterranean: Unveiling the deep history of human-mediated gamebird dispersal

Characterization of phenology, physiology, morphology and biomass traits across a broad Euro‐Mediterranean ecotypic panel of the lignocellulosic feedstock Arundo donax

Multiple evolutionary lineages detected in giant reed (Arundo donax L.): Applied and evolutionary perspectives

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