Relationship and genetic diversity of mistletoe (Viscum album L.) subspecies

Mejnartowicz, L.

doi:10.5586/asbp.2006.007

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…This would be a return to earlier concepts in which mistletoe occurring on pine trees was referred to as Viscum laxum Boiss, while mistletoe occurring on trees from the genus Abies was referred to as Viscum abietis Beck. 25 , 39 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The future of Viscum album L. in Europe will be shaped by temperature and host availability

Walas

Kędziora²,

Ksepko³

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Viscum album L. is a plant of great importance due to its influence on the host trees and, by extension, entire ecosystems. The species is also significant to humans—on the one hand, because of its use in medicine, and on the other, because of the growing threat it poses to the stability of conifer stands. Therefore, it is important to recognize the future range of three mistletoe subspecies (Viscum album subsp. album, V. album subsp. austriacum, and V. album subsp. abietis). Modelling of the potential range of these subspecies was performed using MAXENT software. Locations were collected from literature and databases. A total number of 3335 stands were used. Bioclimatic data for the current conditions and three future scenarios (SSP 1.26, SSP 3.70, SSP 5.85) were downloaded from the CHELSA database. The results confirmed that the temperature is the key variable on the potential range of the analysed subspecies. V. album subsp. abietis is withdrawing from its range according to all scenarios. In the case of V. album subsp. austriacum, a slight range shift is visible. Only the V. album subsp. album will expand non-directionally. The reason is most likely a very large number of host species and greater genetic variability compared to the subspecies found on conifers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The future of Viscum album L. in Europe will be shaped by temperature and host availability

Walas

Kędziora²,

Ksepko³

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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“…Studies of two other mistletoe species have reported similar or lower levels of genetic variability. For example, Jerome and Ford (2002) used AFLP markers to detect genetic diversity of Arceuthobium americanum ( H T = 0.238, F ST = 0.286), and Mejnartowicz (2006) used isozymes to study Viscum album ( H O = 0.252, H E = 0.292, F ST = 0.277). The higher degree of population genetic differentiation among the D. pentandra populations may be the result of habitat fragmentation, as reported in studies of other plants (e.g., Ewers & Didham, 2006; Potts et al, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High outcrossing rates in a self‐compatible and highly aggregated host‐generalist mistletoe

Sui

Wang

et al. 2022

Molecular Ecology

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Plants have evolved various strategies to avoid inbreeding, but the mass flowering displayed by many plants predisposes them to within-plant pollen movements and self-pollination. Mistletoes often aggregate at multiple spatial scales. Their bird pollinators often visit several flowers of the same individual and of others on the same host tree. We hypothesized that hermaphroditic mistletoes have self-incompatibility mechanisms that reduce or prevent selfing. Whether their spatial distribution, affected by host specificity, host distribution, and the behaviour of seed dispersers, influences their mating system and population genetic structure remains unclear. We studied how mating system and spatial distribution affect genetic structure in four populations of the host-generalist mistletoe Dendrophthoe pentandra in southwestern China using microsatellite markers and progeny arrays. We also characterized the fine-scale spatial genetic structure among 166 mistletoes from four host trees in one population. Prevalence and intensity of infection both appeared to vary among host species, strongly affecting the degree of aggregation. Host tree size had a strong effect on infection intensity. Surprisingly, manual pollination experiments indicated that D. pentandra is self-compatible, but genetic analyses revealed that outcrossing rates were higher than expected in all four populations (MLTR t m 0.83-1.20, Bayesian t m 0.772-0.952). Spatial genetic structure was associated with distance between host trees but not at shorter scales (within hosts). Our results demonstrate that the combination of bird pollination, bird-mediated seed dispersal, and post-dispersal processes result in outcrossing and maintain relatively high diversity in the presence of biparental inbreeding, despite very high local densities and possible self-compatibility.

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“…A number of subspecies are recognised, treated as forms, varieties or even species by some (Mejnartowicz, 2006). Subspecies album L. (= var.…”

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confidence: 99%

Biological Flora of Britain and Ireland:Viscum album

et al. 2022

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This account presents information on all aspects of the biology of Viscum album L. (Mistletoe) that are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics and behaviour. The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the Biological Flora of Britain and Ireland: distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history, and conservation. Viscum album is a widespread obligate hemiparasite on a wide range of angiosperm and gymnosperm trees. Once thought to take just water and nutrients from its host via a haustorium, it is now suggested to also take carbon. Heavy infestations can reduce host vitality through prolific water use and carbon removal. Flowers are highly reduced but are primarily pollinated by flies, ants and bees. Seeds are dispersed by birds. Removal of the epicarp is necessary for successful seedling establishment, and seeds have a sticky viscin coat, adhering it to the host bark. Vegetative spread also happens under the bark of its host resulting in densities of >700 Mistletoe plants per host. Viscum album is a lowland species, most frequent in open human‐made habitats extending into woodlands in Europe. It has been widely planted for folklore use centred around Christmas. Despite conservation concerns following removal of Mistletoe‐laden old orchards, the species is thriving and needs control in some areas. Viscotoxins and lectins in leaves and shoots have been widely used in herbal medicine and now potentially in complementary cancer therapy.

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Relationship and genetic diversity of mistletoe (Viscum album L.) subspecies

Cited by 9 publications

References 14 publications

The future of Viscum album L. in Europe will be shaped by temperature and host availability

The future of Viscum album L. in Europe will be shaped by temperature and host availability

High outcrossing rates in a self‐compatible and highly aggregated host‐generalist mistletoe

Biological Flora of Britain and Ireland:Viscum album

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