Abstract
Allozyme variation was studied in all nine diploidErigeron species known from the Alps:E. alpinus, E. neglectus, E. polymorphus, E. candidus, E. uniflorus, E. atticus, E. gaudinii, E. acer, andE. angulosus. A total of 248 individuals from 24 natural populations was investigated using starch gel electrophoresis. Seven enzymes and 13 loci were assessed. Genetic variation within populations was low with the proportion of polymorphic loci ranging from 0.0–0.385, and average number of alleles per polymorphic locus from 2.0–2.5. In general, 70–100% of the genetic variation was attributed to between population differences. Mean genetic identities for pair-wise comparisons of populations averaged 0.893 within species, and 0.890 among species. Interspecific genetic variation of populations usually did not exceed intraspecific variation. It was concluded that theErigeron species from the Alps may have arisen by recent speciation probably during the epoches of glaciation. Morphological and ecological differences between species seem to be based on few gene loci.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bayer, R. J., Crawford, D. J., 1986: Allozyme divergence among five diploid species ofAntennaria (Asteraceae: Inuleae) and their allopolyploid derivatives. — Amer. J. Bot.73: 287–296.
Crawford, D. J., 1983: Phylogenetic and systematic inferences from electrophoretic studies. — InTanksley, S. D., Orton, T. J., (Eds): Isozymes in plant genetics and breeding, part A, pp. 257–287. — Amsterdam, Oxford, New York: Elsevier.
—, 1985: Electrophoretic data and plant speciation. — Syst. Bot.10: 405–416.
—, 1989: Enzyme electrophoresis and plant systematics. — InSoltis, D. E., Soltis, P. S., (Eds): Isozymes in plant biology, pp. 146–164. — Portland, Oregon: Dioscorides Press.
—,Ornduff, R., Vasey, M. C., 1985: Allozyme variation within and betweenLasthenia minor and its derivative species,L. maritima (Asteraceae). — Amer. J. Bot.72: 1177–1184.
—,Smith, E. B., 1984: Allozyme divergence and intraspecific variation inCoreopsis grandiflora (Compositae). — Syst. Bot.9: 219–225.
—,Stuessy, T. F., Silva, M., 1987: Allozyme divergence and the evolution ofDendroseris (Compositae: Lactuceae) on the Juan Fernandez Islands. — Syst. Bot.12: 435–443.
Gottlieb, L. D., 1975: Allelic diversity in the outcrossing annual plantStephanomeria exigua ssp.carotifera (Compositae). — Evolution29: 213–225.
—, 1977: Electrophoretic evidence and plant systematics. — Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard.64: 161–180.
—, 1981a: Gene number in species ofAstereae that have different chromosome numbers. — Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA78: 3726–3729.
—, 1981b: Electrophoretic evidence and plant populations. — InReinhold, L., Harborne, J. B., Swain, T., (Eds): Progress in phytochemistry7, pp. 1–46. — Oxford, New York, Toronto, Sydney, Paris, Frankfurt: Pergamon Press.
—, 1982: Conservation and duplication of isozymes in plants. — Science216: 373–380.
—, 1984a: Isozyme evidence and problem solving in plant systematics. — InGrant, W. F., (Ed.): Plant biosystematics, pp. 343–357. — Toronto, Orlando, San Diego, New York, London, Montreal, San Francisco, Sydney, Tokyo, São Paulo: Academic Press.
—, 1984b: Genetics and morphological evolution in plants. — Amer. Naturalist123: 681–709.
Grant, V., 1981: Plant speciation. 2nd edn. — New York: Columbia University Press.
Hamrick, J. L., Linhart, Y. B., Mitton, J. B., 1979: Relationships between life history characteristics and electrophoretically detectable genetic variation in plants. — Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst.10: 173–200.
Helenurm, K., Ganders, F. R., 1985: Adaptive radiation and genetic differentiation in HawaiianBidens. — Evolution39: 753–765.
Hess, H. E., Landolt, E., Hirzel, R., 1980: Flora der Schweiz und angrenzender Gebiete3. 2nd edn. — Basel, Boston, Stuttgart: Birkhäuser.
Huber, W., Zhang, H., 1991: Morphologische und chemotaxonomische Untersuchungen an denErigeron-Arten der Alpen. — Ber. Geobot. Inst. ETH, Stiftung Rübel (Zürich)57: 116–164.
Kesseli, R. V., Michelmore, R. W., 1986: Genetic variation and phylogenies detected from isozyme markers in species ofLactuca. — J. Heredity77: 324–331.
Lowrey, T. K., Crawford, D. J., 1983: Allozyme divergence and evolution inTetramolopium (Compositae: Astereae) of the Hawaiian Islands. — Amer. J. Bot.70 (5), part 2: 122.
May, B., Wright, J. E., Stoneking, M., 1979: Joint segregation of biochemical loci inSalmonidae: results from experiments withSalvelinus and a review of the literature of other species. — J. Fish. Res. Board Canada36: 1114–1128.
Nei, M., 1972: Genetic distance between populations. — Amer. Naturalist106: 283–292.
—, 1973: Analysis of gene diversity in subdivided populations. — Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA70: 3321–3323.
Nesom, G. L., 1989: The separation ofTrimorpha (Compositae: Astereae) fromErigeron. — Phytologia67: 61–66.
Sneath, P. H. A., Sokal, R. R., 1973: Numerical taxonomy. — San Francisco: Freeman.
Soltis, D. E., 1985: Allozymic differentiation amongHeuchera americana, H. parviflora, H. pubescens, andH. villosa (Saxifragaceae). — Syst. Bot.10: 193–198.
—,Haufler, C. H., Darrow, D. C., Gastony, G. J., 1983: Starch gel electrophoresis of ferns: a compilation of grinding buffers, gel and electrode buffers, and staining schedules. — Amer. Fern J.73: 9–27.
Stebbins, G. L., 1986: Gene action and morphogenesis in plants. — InGustafson, J. P., Stebbins, G. L., Ayala, F. J., (Eds): Genetics, development, and evolution, pp. 29–46. — New York, London: Plenum Press.
Swofford, D. L., Selander, R. B., 1989: BIOSYS-1, a computer program for the analysis of allelic variation in population genetics and biochemical systematics, release 1.7. — D. L. Swofford, Illinois Natural History Survey, IL, USA.
Vierhapper, F., 1906: Monographie der alpinenErigeron-Arten Europas und Vorderasiens. — Beih. Bot. Centralbl. Abt. 2,19: 385–560.
Wagenitz, G., 1979:Compositae I. — InHegi, G., (Ed.): Illustrierte Flora von Mitteleuropa6 (3). 2nd edn. — Berlin, Hamburg: Parey.
Weeden, N. F., Wendel, J. F., 1989: Genetics of plant isozymes. — InSoltis, D. E., Soltis, P. S., (Eds): Isozymes in plant biology, pp. 46–72. — Portland, Oregon: Dioscorides Press.
Wendel, J. F., Weeden, N. F., 1989: Visualization and interpretation of plant isozymes. — InSoltis, D. E., Soltis, P. S., (Eds): Isozymes in plant biology, pp. 5–45. — Portland, Oregon: Dioscorides Press.
Whitkus, R., 1988: Modified version of GENESTAT: A program for computing genetic statistics from allelic frequency data. — Pl. Genet. Newsletter4: 10.
Witter, M. S., 1987: Adaptive radiation and genetic differentiation in the Hawaiian silversword alliance (Compositae: Madiinae). — Amer. J. Bot.74: 766.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Huber, W., Leuchtmann, A. Genetic differentiation of theErigeron species (Asteraceae) in the Alps: A case of unusual allozymic uniformity. Pl Syst Evol 183, 1–16 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00937731
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00937731