Summary
A survey of enzyme variability in several populations of Plantago major in the Netherlands has been made. Nine of 36 loci were found to be polymorphic. The most extensively studies population showed 7 polymorphic loci (19%). The average heterozygosity was 0.005, a low value since P. major is predominantly inbreeding; a first estimate of the outcrossing rate is only 10%. All nine variable loci show simple Mendelian inheritance, seven of them could be placed into four different linkage groups. Marked differences in allele frequencies were found between two subspecies: ssp. major and ssp. pleiosperma. Two enzyme loci possess subspecies-specific alleles, Pgm-1 and Got-1. The most likely explanation of this phenomenon is the existence of fitness differences, caused either by the enzyme loci themselves or by linked loci.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature
Ayala, F.J.; Powell, J.R.; Tracey, M.L.; Mourão, C.A.; Pérez-Salas, S. (1972): Enzyme variability in the Drosophila willistoni group. IV. Genetic variation in natural populations of Drosophila willistoni. Genetics 70, 113–139
Blom, C.W.P.M. (1979): Effects of trampling and soil compaction on the occurrence of some Plantago species in coastal sand dunes. VI. The vegetation of two dune grasslands in relation to physical soil factors. Thesis, University of Nijmegen
Brown, A.H.D. (1979): Enzyme polymorphism in plant populations. Theor. Popul. Biol. 15, 1–42
Clegg, M.T.; Allard, R.W. (1972): Patterns of genetic differentiation in the slender wild oat species Avena barbata. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. (USA) 69, 1820–1824
Groot, J.; Boschhuizen, R. (1970): A preliminary investigation into the genecology of Plantago major L. J. Exp. Bot. 21, 835–841
Mølgaard, P. (1976): Plantago major ssp. major and ssp. pleiosperma. Morphology, biology and ecology in Denmark. Bot. Tidskrift 71, 31–56
Nevo, E. (1978): Genetic variation in natural populations: patterns and theory. Theor. Popul. Biol. 13, 121–177
Sagar, G.R.; Harper, J.L. (1964): Biological Flora of the British Isles. Plantago major L., P. media L. and P. lanceolata L. J. Ecol. 52, 189–221
Shaw, C.R.; Prasad, R. (1970): Starch gel electrophoresis of enzymes — A compilation of recipes. Biochem. Genet. 4, 297–320
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by R.W. Allard
Grassland Species Research Group Publication no. 14
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
van Dijk, H., van Delden, W. Genetic variability in Plantago species in relation to their ecology. Theoret. Appl. Genetics 60, 285–290 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00263720
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00263720