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Using genetic and morphological analysis to distinguish endangered taxa from their hybrids with the cultivated exotic pest plant Lantana strigocamara (syn: Lantana camara)

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Abstract

Because highly invasive species can rapidly assimilate rare taxa, we questioned whether two Florida endangered Lantana depressa varieties existed 21 years after Sanders documented their widespread hybridization with exotic Lantana strigocamara, and whether morphological traits could accurately discriminate genetic individuals. Stepwise discriminant analysis of morphological characters discriminated the three taxa, correctly classifying 98, 91, 89% of L. strigocamara, L. depressa var. depressa, and var. floridana. Hybrids blurred taxonomic distinctions of varieties and reduced classification accuracy by 7–17%. Species-specific Random Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP-PCR) confirmed hybridization has occurred. Intersimple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) fingerprints analyzed with STRUCTURE identified three groups indicating introgression. Morphological traits significantly, but weakly correlated with q ratios (P = 0.0001; r 2 = 0.45). Although L. strigocamara introgression is widespread and ongoing, wild populations contain individuals that are predominantly L. depressa genome, supporting actions to remove adventive L. strigocamara, prevent its sale, and promote sales of genetically confirmed natives.

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Acknowledgments

We dedicate this paper to the memory of Kathy Burks, an extraordinary native plant conservation advocate in Florida, who suggested we conduct this research. This work was funded by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry Contracts #007997 and #009064. For assistance in the field and laboratory, we sincerely thank G. Gann, J. Possley, C. & D. Walters, C. Ettore, M. Petersen, B. Horwith, and A. Cantillo. We thank Javier Francisco-Ortega, the editor, and one anonymous reviewer for helpful comments on the manuscript.

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  1. Center for Tropical Plant Conservation, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 11935 Old Cutler Rd., Miami, FL, 33156, USA

    Joyce Maschinski

  2. Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe, IL, USA

    Eileen Sirkin & Jeremie Fant

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  1. Joyce Maschinski
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  2. Eileen Sirkin
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Correspondence to Joyce Maschinski.

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Maschinski, J., Sirkin, E. & Fant, J. Using genetic and morphological analysis to distinguish endangered taxa from their hybrids with the cultivated exotic pest plant Lantana strigocamara (syn: Lantana camara). Conserv Genet 11, 1607–1621 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-009-0035-6

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