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Comparative Study of Seed Germination and Genetic Variation of Rare Endemic Rhinanthus osiliensis and Related Widespread Congener R. rumelicus (Orobanchaceae)

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Abstract

Genetic diversity is affected by breeding systems, life history traits and the distribution of species. Generally, inbred species with restricted geographic distribution have lower genetic variation compared to common outbreeding plant species. Rhinanthus osiliensis is a narrow endemic growing in calcareous spring fens on the island Saaremaa, Estonia. Presumably the closest congener of R. osiliensis is R. rumelicus, which is widely distributed in Eastern and Central Europe and the Balkan Peninsula. Isozymes were used to describe the mating system, levels of genetic variation and differentiation between the populations of R. osiliensis and R. rumelicus. Genetic diversity was found to be higher in widespread R. rumelicus compared to the endemic R. osiliensis. A significantly higher inbreeding coefficient with a low germination rate indicated substantial autogamy in R. osiliensis, whereas R. rumelicus displayed a mixed mating mode with a moderate inbreeding coefficient and a high germination rate. The low genetic differentiation between R. osiliensis and R. rumelicus confirmed their close affinity and the short evolutionary period of both taxa after the postglacial colonization. Considering the restricted geographic range and inbreeding in populations of R. osiliensis, this species may face a loss of genetic variation in the future.

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Acknowledgements

We thank M. Reitalu for information and for the permission to collect samples and Ü. Aarna for laboratory assistance and seed germination. We also thank V. Jaaska for providing valuable comments and M. Mürk for editing the English version of the manuscript. This work was supported by the European Regional Development Fund (Center of Excellence FIBIR) and the Estonian Science Foundation Grant 7544.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, 40 Lai Str., 51005, Tartu, Estonia

    Tiina Talve, Silvia Pihu, Ülle Reier & Tatjana Oja

  2. University of Tartu, Natural History Museum, 46 Vanemuise Str., 51014, Tartu, Estonia

    Kaili Orav

  3. Institute of Botany, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 23 Acad. G. Bonchev Str., 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Georgi Angelov

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  1. Tiina Talve
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  2. Kaili Orav
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  3. Georgi Angelov
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Correspondence to Tiina Talve.

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Talve, T., Orav, K., Angelov, G. et al. Comparative Study of Seed Germination and Genetic Variation of Rare Endemic Rhinanthus osiliensis and Related Widespread Congener R. rumelicus (Orobanchaceae). Folia Geobot 47, 1–15 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12224-011-9105-x

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