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First report of triploidy in Ailanthus altissima, an invasive tree species

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Journal of Forest Research

Abstract

Ailanthus altissima is a woody plant that has become invasively naturalized in many countries. Using nuclear SSR markers, we studied specimens of this species collected throughout Japan and found an individual (labeled Aa-1) that was not diploid. We examined pollen morphology and ploidy level of Aa-1 by optical microscopy and flow cytometry (FCM), respectively. Some pollen grains were morphologically abnormal and much larger than normal. FCM analysis demonstrated that Aa-1 was triploid. Formation of abnormal pollen indicates that Aa-1 may well have reduced fertility compared to normal diploids. If this were the case, vegetative progeny Aa-1 could be used as ornamentals without attendant risks of future naturalization.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Civil Engineering Center at Toyama City for allowing us to sample our target Ailanthus altissima tree (Aa-1). We also thank the University of Tokyo’s Tanashi Forest Center for allowing us to use their optical microscope.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Hiroyuki Kurokochi, Yoko Saito & Yuji Ide

  2. Department of Applied Biological Science, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan

    Hiroshi Uchiyama

  3. Forest Research Institute, Toyama Prefectural Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Research Center, 3 Yoshimine, Tateyama-machi, Nakaniikawa-gun, Toyama, Japan

    Mikio Hasegawa

Authors
  1. Hiroyuki Kurokochi
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  2. Hiroshi Uchiyama
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  3. Mikio Hasegawa
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  4. Yoko Saito
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  5. Yuji Ide
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hiroyuki Kurokochi.

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Kurokochi, H., Uchiyama, H., Hasegawa, M. et al. First report of triploidy in Ailanthus altissima, an invasive tree species. J For Res 19, 469–472 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-014-0435-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-014-0435-4

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