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Effect of the breeding system on the genetic structure in threeCephalanthera spp. (Orchidaceae)

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Abstract

The genetic variation of seven enzymes for a total of nine loci was investigated in three species of terrestrial orchids of the genusCephalanthera:C. longifolia, C. rubra, andC. damasonium. These species are characterized by presenting different breeding types: outbreeding , outbreeding with facultative vegetative reproduction, and inbreeding, respectively. Electrophoretic evidence points to a difference in the behaviour of each of the three species which seems strictly related to the breeding type. On the basis of our resultsC. longifolia behaves as a normal outbreeder, whileC. rubra presents the influence of vegetative reproduction in some populations and not in others.C. damasonium shows a total lack of both among and within populations genetic variation, which is most probably due to the autogamic breeding type.

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Scacchi, R., De Angelis, G. & Corbo, R.M. Effect of the breeding system on the genetic structure in threeCephalanthera spp. (Orchidaceae). Pl Syst Evol 176, 53–61 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00937945

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00937945

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