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Genetic diversity, population structure and phylogenetic inference among Italian Orchids of the Serapias genus assessed by AFLP molecular markers

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Abstract

The means by which new species arise remain a fundamental question in the Orchid family evolution. Even if the Orchid-pollinator interactions are highly specific, events of cross-hybridization in Serapias are possible and represent a central issue of the plant's evolutionary biology. Italian Orchids have a wide variety of pollination systems and highly diverse floral traits, considered as some of the main tools for activating the speciation processes. The assess of diversity in Serapias taxa and eventual phylogenetic relationships among Serapias lingua, S. parviflora, S. vomeracea, S. apulica, S. nurrica, S. neglecta, S. cordigera, S. politisii, and some putative inter-specific hybrids were investigated at the DNA level by AFLP markers. The present molecular study on Serapias populations (1) confirms some previous finding, (2) opens new hypotheses on the possible evolutionary and taxonomic relationships existing among the Serapias species, and (3) gives indications about the real consistence of hybrid individuals in a genus characterized by a relevant gene flow.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge support from the Italian Ministry of University and Research (Interventi per la Ricerca Applicata, Legge 488/92). Special acknowledgement goes to Prof. Walter Rossi for his collaboration and help, especially with the plant material collection and species identification.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Genetics and Environmental Biotechnology, Department of Environmental Science, University of Parma, Viale G.P. Usberti, 11/A, 43124, Parma, Italy

    Maria Luisa Savo Sardaro

  2. Floramiata S.p.A., Località casa del corto, 53025, Piancastagnaio, Siena, Italy

    Benedetto Aracri

  3. Department of Science and Technologies for Agriculture, Forestry, Nature and Energy (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, 01100, Viterbo, Italy

    Maroun Atallah, Maurizio Enea Picarella & Mario A. Pagnotta

Authors
  1. Maria Luisa Savo Sardaro
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  2. Maroun Atallah
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  3. Maurizio Enea Picarella
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  4. Benedetto Aracri
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  5. Mario A. Pagnotta
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Correspondence to Mario A. Pagnotta.

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Sardaro, M.L.S., Atallah, M., Picarella, M.E. et al. Genetic diversity, population structure and phylogenetic inference among Italian Orchids of the Serapias genus assessed by AFLP molecular markers. Plant Syst Evol 298, 1701–1710 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-012-0671-z

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