Plant Systematics and Evolution

, Volume 219, Issue 1–2, pp 27–38 | Cite as

Evolution of sprouting versus seeding inAspalathus linearis

  • Michelle van der Bank
  • F. H. van der Bank
  • B. -E. van Wyk
Article
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Abstract

We have tested the hypothesis that reseeding is a plesiomorphic character state and that sprouting is a derived state inAspalathus linearis, and that the latter is an adaptation to ensure fire-survival in a fireprone environment. Samples of five seeder and four sprouter populations of A.linearis were examined by horizontal starch gel electrophoresis to assess the amount of genetic differentiation within and between sprouting and seeding populations, and to determine the extent of gene flow between the populations. Leaf extracts were surveyed for ten enzymes and gene products revealed genetic variation at 13 (76%) of 17 protein coding loci. Allele frequency differences were found between sprouting and seeding populations and genetic distance values show that the sprouters are grouped separate from the seeders, thus providing support for the morphological data on which the above mentioned hypothesis is based. It is evident that evolution operates at the population level inA. linearis.

Key words

Fire-survival strategy Crotalarieae Aspalathus linearis seeders sprouters electrophoresis 
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1999

Authors and Affiliations

  • Michelle van der Bank
    • 1
  • F. H. van der Bank
    • 2
  • B. -E. van Wyk
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of BotanyRand Afrikaans UniversityJohannesburgSouth Africa
  2. 2.Department of ZoologyRand Afrikaans UniversityJohannesburgSouth Africa

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