Unexpectedly high genetic variation in large unisexual clumps of the subdioecious plant Honckenya peploides

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  • Julia Sánchez-Vilas
  • Marianne Philipp
  • Rubén Retuerto
Honckenya peploides is a subdioecious dune plant that reproduces both sexually and by clonal growth. In northwest Spain this species was found to exhibit an extreme spatial segregation of the sexes, and our objective was to investigate genetic variation in unisexual clumps. Genetic variation was studied in six unisexual clumps of H. peploides, three of them exclusively composed of males and three exclusively female. In total, 193 samples were analysed using isozyme analysis and 80 samples were analysed using two AFLP primer combinations. Both techniques revealed considerably high genetic diversity (average proportion of distinguishable genotypes: 0.22 for isozymes and 0.36 for AFLP; average Simpson's D: 0.65 for isozymes and 0.68 for AFLP). Our results show that, in spite of clonal growth, each unisexual clump consists of different genotypes. Genetic diversity within clumps is similar for both sexual morphs. Reasons for unisexuality of the clumps are discussed.
Original languageEnglish
JournalPlant Biology
Volume12
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)518-525
ISSN1435-8603
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2010

Bibliographical note

KEYWORDS
AFLP • clonal growth • genetic variation • isozymes • sexual dimorphism • spatial segregation

ID: 19230426