Distylic Hottonia palustris shows high reproductive success in small populations despite low genetic variability
Vermeersch, S.; Triest, L. (2006). Distylic Hottonia palustris shows high reproductive success in small populations despite low genetic variability. Aquat. Bot. 84(4): 354-358. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabot.2006.01.004
In: Aquatic Botany. Elsevier Science: Tokyo; Oxford; New York; London; Amsterdam. ISSN 0304-3770; e-ISSN 1879-1522, more
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| Keywords |
Enzymes > Isoenzymes
Reproduction
Hottonia palustris
Belgium, Flanders [Marine Regions]
Fresh water |
| Author keywords |
Hottonia palustris; isozyme; heterostylous; morph bias; reproductive success |
| Abstract |
Hottonia palustris L. (Primulaceae) is characterized by a heteromorphic incompatibility system. The strategy of distylic ramets is believed to promote outcrossing, to maintain overall genetic diversity and to prevent inbreeding depression. In spite of this distyly, an extremely low amount of allozymic diversity was observed in 545 individual ramets from 14 populations in Flanders (Belgium). A possible explanation for such low genetic variation is discussed in relation to the vegetative propagating abilities and the ecological niche width of the species. In contrast to the uniformity in allozymes as well as to the feature of single morph populations, there was a high variability in reproductive success between populations such as the number of seeds per ramet (425–2633), the number of flowers per ramet (9–36) and the mean weight of seeds (0.03–0.17 mg). Small populations and even those consisting of only one style morph may show a high reproductive success. As a whole, H. palustris showed a negative relationship of reproductive success with the surface area of its populations. |
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