The extent of clonality and genetic diversity in lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis‐idaea L.) revealed by RAPDs and leaf‐shape analysis

Abstract

Numerous plant species reproduce mainly by clonal growth, implying that levels of genetic variation may be comparatively low. In this study we describe the genetic and genotypic diversity within and between four Swedish populations of the clonal shrub lingonberry, Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. Two approaches were used to assess the amount and partitioning of variation: automated image analysis of leaf shape and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Morphometric analyses, using moment invariants and elliptic Fourier coefficients, revealed that most of the variation could be attributed to within-population variation. With the use of 43 polymorphic RAPD markers, we were able to identify 29 different genotypes (i.e. putative clones) among 129 plants from two populations. The genotypic diversity (D: mean 0.84) and evenness (E: mean 0.81) were higher than the average for clonal plant species. Within-population gene diversity was similar to values reported in nonclonal plants, suggesting that sexual reproduction has played a significant role in these populations despite low levels of seedling recruitment in present-day populations. An analysis of molecular variance revealed that most of the variation (89.2%) resided within populations. Comparisons between the different suites of characters indicated a congruent pattern of partitions of diversity, particularly when comparing moment invariants and RAPDs. When comparing the ability of the two descriptor suites to assign the plants to the RAPD-defined clones, elliptic Fourier coefficients yielded the best result; a classification test correctly reassigned 96.9% and 98.1% of the plant material in the two respective populations.

Genetic structure and gene flow in an endangered perennial grass, Arctophila fulva var. pendulina

“…Jonsson et al 1996;Auge et al 2001;Lundqvist and Andersson 2001;Persson and Gustavsson 2001;Hangelbroek et al 2002). For example, in Carex bigelowii no seed-derived plantlets have been observed in natural stands, even though the species is genotypically highly variable (Jonsson et al 1996).…”

Genetic patterns in range-edge populations of <i>Vaccinium</i> species from the central Balkans: implications on conservation prospects and sustainable usage

“…Vaccinium myrtillus L., Vaccinium uliginosum L. and Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. (Vaccinium, Ericaceae) are perennial, evergreen or deciduous cold-adapted clonal shrubs which have wide natural ranges that cover more or less continuously northern and central Europe, northern Asia and North America (Popova 1972;Jacquemart 1996;Gustavsson 2001;Persson and Gustavsson 2001). Available genetic studies in these three Vaccinium species involved mainly their natural populations from central and northern Europe and were based predominantly on variability of RAPD markers employed alone (e.g.…”

“…Available genetic studies in these three Vaccinium species involved mainly their natural populations from central and northern Europe and were based predominantly on variability of RAPD markers employed alone (e.g. Persson and Gustavsson 2001;Albert et al 2004Albert et al , 2005Garkava-Gustavsson et al 2005) or along with AFLP markers (Albert et al 2003), but also on allozyme (Alsos et al 2002), chloroplast (cpDNA) (Alsos et al 2005) and combined nuclear (nrDNA) and cpDNA variability (Eidesen et al 2007). However, populations of these species from the Balkans, which represents southeastern marginal edge of their European range distributions, have not been studied genetically to date with one exception only - Eidesen et al (2007) carried out a comprehensive study of V. uliginosum covering the entire range distribution of this species, including populations from southern Europe and the Balkans (one population from Bulgaria represented by six individuals).…”

“…V. myrtillus, V. uliginosum and V. vitis-idaea are clonal plant species which reproduce generatively (predominantly by outcrossing) and vegetativelly (through rhizomes). In such species, an increase in levels of genetic diversity depends on the efficiency of the production of out-crossed seeds and mobilization of generatively reproduced plants (Eriksson 1989;Eriksson and Fröborg 1996;Persson and Gustavsson 2001;Albert et al 2004), while clonal propagation reduces levels of out-crossing, the formation of new genetic combinations (Charpentier 2002;Honnay and Bossuyt 2005) and ultimately levels of genetic diversity through the prevalence and domination of more competitive genotypes (genets) which are more efficient in producing ramets (Eriksson 1989(Eriksson , 1993Jacquemart et al 1994;Pornon et al 2000;Honnay and Bossuyt 2005;Clark-Tapia et al 2006). Although lower levels of genetic diversity are generally expected in clonal plant species (Hamrick and Godt 1989;Bartish et al 1999;Nybom and Bartish 2000), several studies revealed as much genetic diversity in clonal as in non-clonal plants (Ellstrand and Roose 1987), and this holds also for Vaccinium species (e.g.…”

Genetic differentiation among populations of Sesleria albicans Kit. ex Schultes (Poaceae) from ecologically different habitats in central Europe

“…Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis has been successfully used to detect genetic variation of plant populations in a large number of studies (Fahima et al, 1999;Mengistu et al, 2000;Persson and Gustavsson, 2001;Arafeh et al, 2002) and to analyse genetic differentiation among populations from ecologically different habitats (Owuor et al, 1997;Huff et al, 1998;Kö lliker et al, 1998;Hsao and Lee, 1999). Moreover, the analysis of molecular variance technique (AMOVA) (Excoffier et al, 1992) is a powerful tool to analyse RAPD marker variation within and among plant populations (Huff et al, 1993;Huff, 1997).…”