engleski

Strong Influence of Clonality on the Fine Scale Spatial and Genetic Structure of Salvia brachyodon Vandas (Lamiaceae) Population

Salvia brachyodon Vandas is a narrowly endemic species restricted to only three known populations in the central Adriatic region and it is treated as a highly vulnerable species in Montenegro and statutorily strictly protected indigenous plant species in Croatia. It is a partially clonal species and reproduces both sexually through seeding and clonally from perennial underground stolons. The species is characterized by rich content of essential oil, of which chemical composition is rather similar to other closely related sage species including well-studied common sage. The studied population of S. brachyodon, located in Pelješac peninsula, Croatia is the largest of all known populations. In order to assess levels of genetic diversity, 687 individuals were georeferenced, sampled and genotyped using eight microsatellite markers. For additional assessment of trade-off between sexual and clonal reproduction, the ramets and inflorescence were counted. Population genetic analysis revealed high levels of genetic diversity with no significant departure from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Although numerous small clones dominated population over only few large ones, clonal reproduction strongly prevail over sexual reproduction. Since different genets virtually do not intermingle with each other, population’s clonal architecture relies on phalanx strategy of ramets’ spatial distribution. Results revealed that clones of different sizes flower with similar intensity and consequently the larger clones contribute more to sexual reproduction than the smaller ones. The analysis of clone size distribution revealed that studied population was characterized by Repeated Seedling Recruitment (RSR) strategy of new genets recruitment, which assumed constant emergence and establishment of new seedling. Strong spatial segregation was detected among large and small clones implying specific colonization strategy of the population.

Salvia brachyodon Vandas, clonality, genetic diversity, genets, ramets

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