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Genetic Variation Within and Among Metal‐Tolerant and Non‐Tolerant Populations of Armeria maritima (Mill.) Willd. s.l. (Plumbaginaceae) in Central and Northeast Germany
Author(s) -
Baumbach H.,
Hellwig F. H.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
plant biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.871
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1438-8677
pISSN - 1435-8603
DOI - 10.1055/s-2003-40729
Subject(s) - biology , edaphic , analysis of molecular variance , genetic variation , rapd , genetic structure , genetic variability , gene flow , botany , population , ecology , genetic distance , geographical distance , genetic diversity , genetics , gene , genotype , demography , sociology , soil water
Six metal‐tolerant populations and sub‐populations of Armeria maritima ssp. halleri, ssp. hornburgensis, and ssp. bottendorfensis and two non‐tolerant populations of ssp. elongata in Central and Northeast Germany have been analysed using RAPD markers. The populations show very strong genetic differentiation (Φ ST = 0.46), corresponding gene flow between them is low (N e m = 0.29). A moderate positive correlation between the matrices of genetic and geographical distances was found between the seven populations and sub‐populations of central Germany (r = 0.68, p < 0.001). Calculated parameters of genetic variability are molecular variance, percentage of heterozygosity and percentage of polymorphic loci. A significant correlation between population size and parameters of genetic variability was not recognisable. Genetic structure was investigated by an analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA). The studied populations show strong genetic differentiation. Genetic variation within populations (“normal” as well as metalliferous) is higher (53.9 %) than among them (46.1 %). Six hypotheses of possible genetic relatedness between the studied populations have been tested by AMOVA. A data set structure above the populational level is hardly recognisable. It was impossible to combine the populations to edaphic (tolerant and “non‐tolerant”) or taxonomic groups. A. maritima ssp. halleri of the north Harz mountains and ssp. hornburgensis are clearly separated from a geographical group containing all other populations (across taxonomic and edaphic boundaries). These results are a further indication for a polyphyletic origin of metal‐tolerant populations of A. maritima s.l. by multiple colonizations of metalliferous sites from neighbouring populations on non‐metalliferous soil.