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Diploidy suggests hybrid origin and sexuality in Sorbus subgen. Tormaria from Thuringia, Central Germany

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Abstract

From Thuringia, Central Germany, seven presumably apomictic microspecies were described within Sorbus subgen. Tormaria (Sorbus aria × torminalis, S. latifolia group): Sorbus acutiloba, S. acutisecta, S. decipiens, S. heilingensis, S. isenacensis, S. multicrenata, and S. parumlobata. Flow cytometric ploidy estimation revealed one sample-standard ratio class for all taxa which corresponds to diploidy. As the apomixis in Sorbus is exclusive to polyploids we deduce that the sampled trees are F1 or early diploid hybrids of the combination S. aria × torminalis. The oldest name for this combination is Pyrus × decipiens Bechst. 1810 (= Sorbus × decipiens (Bechst.) Petz. & G. Kirchn.). Hence, the wide-spread presumption that the diploid hybrid Sorbus × decipiens is rare, sterile, and only scarcely found between its parents does not apply for Thuringia. Here, this taxon forms relatively dense stands and spreads by suckering and fertile seeds.

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Acknowledgments

We particularly thank K. Helmecke (Blankenhain/Wittersroda) and P. Rode (Eisenberg) for their field work, review, collection support, discussions, and teamwork. Ralf Hand, Berlin, helped with Sorbus collection in Rhineland-Palatinate. The Gesellschaft zur Erforschung der Flora Deutschlands (GEFD) provided opportunities for the establishment of the Sorbus working group. We also thank F. K. Meyer (Jena) and the foresters D. Dubetz (Arnstadt) and A. Schöler (Heilingen) for their guidance and support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adlerstraße 6, 90522, Oberasbach, Germany

    Norbert Meyer

  2. Department of Botany and Molecular Evolution, Senckenberg Research Institute and Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Thomas Gregor & Juraj Paule

  3. Am Happach 43, 97218, Gerbrunn, Germany

    Lenz Meierott

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  1. Norbert Meyer
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  2. Thomas Gregor
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  4. Juraj Paule
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Correspondence to Norbert Meyer or Juraj Paule.

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Meyer, N., Gregor, T., Meierott, L. et al. Diploidy suggests hybrid origin and sexuality in Sorbus subgen. Tormaria from Thuringia, Central Germany. Plant Syst Evol 300, 2169–2175 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-014-1043-7

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