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Population structure inferred from allozyme analysis in the clonal herb Fragaria chiloensis (Rosaceae)
Author(s) -
Alpert Peter,
Lumaret Roselyne,
Di Giusto France
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1993.tb15326.x
Subject(s) - biology , fragaria , population , stolon , perennial plant , vegetative reproduction , genetic structure , sexual reproduction , botany , genetic variation , genetics , demography , gene , sociology
In clonal plants, vegetative reproduction and clonal architecture can produce unusual population structures including populations composed of a single genetic individual and mosaics of discrete or intermingled genets. Fragaria chiloensis is a rapidly and diffusely spreading, stoloniferous, perennial herb that forms relatively isolated populations on coastal sand dunes in California. We predicted that populations would consist of a few, large, intermingled genets; and that genetic and spatial distances would be more closely correlated for clonal fragments than for genets. Using allozyme markers from four enzyme systems (Est, LAP, PGI, and TO), we measured genotypic differences among fragments in a population on the central coast of California. Contrary to predictions, the population contained numerous genets, and most were found only within areas of 10 × 10 m. However, fragments of some genets did occur at least 80 m apart, and genets intermingled. Genetic and spatial distances were correlated for both genets and fragments. These results suggest that clonal growth and sexual reproduction are both important in structuring this population.