Open AccessMorphometric and molecular variation in concert: taxonomy and genetics of the reticulate P yrenean and I berian alpine spiny fescues ( F estuca eskia complex, P oaceae)
Author(s) -
Torrecilla Pedro,
Acedo Carmen,
Marques Isabel,
DíazPérez Antonio José,
LópezRodríguez José Ángel,
Mirones Victoria,
Sus Ana,
Llamas Félix,
Alonso Alicia,
PérezCollazos Ernesto,
Viruel Juan,
Sahuquillo Elvira,
Sancho Maria Del Carmen,
Komac Benjamin,
Manso José Antonio,
SegarraMoragues José Gabriel,
Draper David,
Villar Luis,
Catalán Pilar
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
botanical journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.872
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1095-8339
pISSN - 0024-4074
DOI - 10.1111/boj.12103
Subject(s) - biology , reticulate evolution , reticulate , rapd , taxon , ploidy , hybrid , polyploid , festuca , taxonomy (biology) , evolutionary biology , botany , poaceae , genetics , phylogenetics , genetic diversity , gene , population , demography , sociology
The I berian mountain spiny fescues are a reticulate group of five diploid grass taxa consisting of three parental species and two putative hybrids: F . × souliei ( F . eskia × F . quadriflora ) and F . × picoeuropeana ( F . eskia × F . gautieri ). Phenotypic and molecular studies were conducted with the aim of determining the taxonomic boundaries and genetic relationships of the five taxa and disentangling the origins of the two hybrids. Statistical analyses of 31 selected phenotypic traits were conducted on individuals from 159 populations and on nine type specimens. Molecular analyses of random amplified polymorphic DNA ( RAPD) markers were performed on 29 populations. The phenotypic analyses detected significant differences between the five taxa and demonstrated the overall intermediacy of the F . × picoeuropeana and F . × souliei between their respective parents. The RAPD analysis corroborated the genetic differentiation of F . eskia , F . gautieri and F . quadriflora and the intermediate nature of the two hybrids; however, they also detected genetic variation within F . × picoeuropeana . These results suggest distinct origins for F . × picoeuropeana in the C antabrian and P yrenean mountains, with the sporadic P yrenean populations having potentially resulted from recent hybridizations and the stabilized C antabrian ones from older events followed by potential displacements of the parents. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2013, 173 , 676–706.