Population structure, seasonal genotypic differentiation, and clonal diversity of weedy dandelions in three Boston area populations (Taraxacum sp.)

Abstract

Weedy dandelion, Taraxacum officinale Weber ex. Wiggers, is a highly successful, cosmopolitan, short-lived perennial species that thrives in disturbed environments. Dandelion likely originated 30 million years ago in the western Himalayas, and its recent history and center of diversity is in western Asia and Europe (Solbrig, 1971). The now notorious weed, once revered for its nutritional and medicinal value, was carried both deliberately and passively to new regions by European settlers (Richards, 1973;Solbrig, 1971). More recently, air travel and agricultural transfer have likely increased dispersal frequency and extent for many plant propagules (Hodkinson & Thompson, 1997;Mack & Lonsdale, 2001). In addition to this human-aided dispersal, the success of the dandelion has likely been facilitated by recently discovered novel airflow vortex behaviors associated with the pappus, resulting in dispersal distances reported to be as high as 150 km or more (Cummins et al., 2018 and citations there in).Dandelion also has an unusual apomictic reproductive system, resulting in hundreds of genetically identical clonal seeds being produced from single triploid parents (Asker & Jerling, 1992). Though apomixis confers a highly efficient mode of reproduction, purely apomictic populations should suffer due to low genetic diversity

Gopher Tales: Re/Storying for Re/Worlding

“…Positioned by some as "common" (Kershaw et al, 2002) and by others as weeds (Mazumder & Kesselli, 2021), here we find resonance with postcolonial novelist, scholar, and gardener Kincaid's (2023) declaration that "a weed is simply a plant we do not yet recognize" and that "every weed can be made into a treasure in the right circumstances" (Kincaid, 2005, p. 145). We align ourselves with Gan et al 's (2017) portrayal of weeds as "small, partial, and wild stories of more-than-human attempts to stay alive" (p. G6), seeing dandelions as "weedy hope" (p. G7) in troubled landscapes.…”

“…Positioned by some as “common” (Kershaw et al., 2002) and by others as weeds (Mazumder & Kesselli, 2021), here we find resonance with postcolonial novelist, scholar, and gardener Kincaid's (2023) declaration that “a weed is simply a plant we do not yet recognize” and that “every weed can be made into a treasure in the right circumstances” (Kincaid, 2005, p. 145). We align ourselves with Gan et al.…”

“…As an assembled participant in the second of our Gopher Tales, the dandelion also requires an extended introduction, given its role in the colonial project of European expansionism and its parallel framing as villain, vermin, icon, and kin. Dandelions were brought to North America (known as Turtle Island in Indigenous cosmologies) by settler colonizers to be cultivated for culinary and medicinal purposes (Mazumder & Kesselli, 2021). Dandelions thus began their sojourn in North America as respected kin.…”

Some like it hot: adaptation to the urban heat island in common dandelion

“…An important determinant of dandelion flowering phenology is through vernalisation: extended exposure to low temperatures is required to enable the transition to flowering. Populations of clonal dandelions display large genotypic variation in flowering phenology 19,20 , providing a genetic reservoir for phenological adaptation. Differential selection on vernalisation requirements and flowering time can therefore be expected along urban-rural clines in relation to the UHIE.…”

Dandelion Has Successfully Adapted to Grow in Different Environments

“…Triploid apomictic dandelions, particularly efficient in rapidly establishing new individuals, do so without the need for pollination. This adaptability aids them in coping with changing environmental conditions and successfully colonizing new areas (Mazumder and Kesseli, 2021). Dandelion seeds are dispersed by the wind, and the mechanisms used by dandelions for widespread seed dissemination are not fully understood.…”