2008 Plant Systematics & Evolution:

From the center to the margins of geographical range: molecular history of steppe plant Iris aphylla L. in Europe

Ada Wróblewska

/ https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00606-007-0630-2

Summary

The steppe plant Iris aphylla was chosen to describe the genetic diversity patterns and postglacial expansion over the whole geographical range. By studying 29 populations, both in the centre and at the periphery of the geographical range, a moderate level of genetic diversity (P _% = 32.5%; H = 0.105), a low level of linkage disequilibria and a low percentage of fixed loci (LD = 2.8%; F _UL = 2.1%) were detected. The intermediate level of I. aphylla genetic diversity is rather close to plant species with a limited geographical range as well as rare and/or endangered species. It could also be explained by common processes of vegetative reproduction, the occasional or absent recruitments as well as the recent history of I. aphylla populations. The lack of significant genetic differences between central and marginal populations (AMOVA, 1.52%; P = 0.112) and the low number (1–3 per population) or lack of unique bands confirmed that the populations in both cases were recently established.

-- BobPries - 21 Dec 2018