The variability of reed [Phragmites australis (cav.) Trin. ex Steud. (Poaceae)] populations expressed in morphological traits of panicles

Abstract

Using a transect technique, each of 12 reed <em>Phragmites australis</em> (Cav.) Trin ex Steud. populations collected in middle part of Odra River-basin, represented by more than 30 plants, were compared with 3 populations from other part of the country and 1 from France. Each panicle was examined according to 15 morphological traits. Results of measurements were subjected to multivariate analysis of variance, to analysis of canonical variables and used for construction of a minimum spanning tree (= dendrite) on the basis of the shortest Mahalanobis distances. The obtained results indicate that populations are generally similar. One population from France (Orleans) shows visible separateness. It may suggest that morphological traits of panicles may be useful in investigations of the reed <em>P. australis </em>populations of a larger geographical distribution

Genetic differentiation of common reed (Phragmites australis) populations from selected lakes of Pomerania (NW Poland), revealed by electrophoretically detected peroxidase variability

“…Population 3 differs from the other two also in its larger panicle size, which is probably due to edaphic conditions. Variation in panicle size and shape was the subject of earlier investigations (Bjˆrk 1963;Krzakowa et al 2003). So far, no correlation between morphological and genetic variation has been detected (Drapikowska & Krzakowa 2009).…”

“…Morphological variation of common reed (Phragmites australis) has intrigued botanists for a long time, which has resulted in intensive research on Scandinavian populations (Bjˆrk 1967). Investigations into morphological variation of common reed were conducted in Polish populations on a smaller scale (Krzakowa et al 2003).…”