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Cytogeography of Oxalis pes-caprae in its native range: where are the pentaploids?

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Abstract

Due to its instantaneous effects on the genetics, phenotype, physiology and/or ecology of a plant, polyploidy can play an important role in facilitating plant invasions. Understanding the determinants of invasiveness in species with multiple ploidy levels requires a detailed knowledge of ploidy composition in native versus invaded ranges. Using DNA flow cytometry, we performed representative ploidy screening (277 localities, 333 individuals) across the native range of Oxalis pes-caprae and compared the data with those from invaded ranges. Both ranges showed striking differences in ploidy composition: whereas tetra- and especially pentaploids successfully colonized secondary areas, only di-, (very rare) tri- and tetraploids (dominant) were found in the native range of this species. Disregarding the diploid var. sericea, diploids and tetraploids of the nominate variety showed largely parapatric distribution in the native range, with a zone of overlap in the Northern Cape Province. Our results challenge the conventional scenario of the introduction of pentaploid individuals from the Greater Cape Floristic Region. The origin of the pentaploid cytotype is unclear and molecular tools applied in a large scale screening are needed to understand the invasion history of the species.

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Acknowledgments

We thank our colleagues who helped us in the field, namely T. Fér, F. Kolář, J. Krejčík, M. Lučanová, P. Trávníček, T. Urfus, P. Vít, and E. Záveská. Jan Wild (Průhonice) kindly prepared a distributional map. Western Cape Nature Conservation Board and Department of Environment and Nature Conservation, Northern Cape are thanked for issuing collection and transport permits (nos. AAA008-00017-0028, AAA005-00176-0028, ODB 669 2011 FLORA 033 2011, ODB 670 2011 FLORA 034 2011, ODB 1792 2011 FLORA 077 2011, ODB 410 2012 FLORA 019 2012, and ODB 411 2012 FLORA 020 2012). The work was supported by the Czech Science Foundation (project P506/10/0643). Additional support was provided by the Grant Agency of the Charles University (project no. 410111), Academy of Science of the Czech Republic (long-term research development project no. RVO 67985939) and institutional resources of Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic for the support of science and research.

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Correspondence to Jan Suda.

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Krejčíková, J., Sudová, R., Oberlander, K.C. et al. Cytogeography of Oxalis pes-caprae in its native range: where are the pentaploids?. Biol Invasions 15, 1189–1194 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-012-0370-2

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