Biological Invasions (2013) 15, 1189-1194

Jana Krejcíková, Radka Sudová, Kenneth C. Oberlander, Leanne L. Dreyer and Jan Suda (2013)
Cytogeography of Oxalis pes-caprae in its native range: where are the pentaploids?
Biological Invasions 15 (6), 1189-1194
Abstract: Due to its instantaneous effects on the genetics, phenotype, physiology and/or ecology of a plant, polyploidy can play an important role in facilitating plant invasions. Understanding the determinants of invasiveness in species with multiple ploidy levels requires a detailed knowledge of ploidy composition in native versus invaded ranges. Using DNA flow cytometry, we performed representative ploidy screening (277 localities, 333 individuals) across the native range of Oxalis pes-caprae and compared the data with those from invaded ranges. Both ranges showed striking differences in ploidy composition: whereas tetra- and especially pentaploids successfully colonized secondary areas, only di-, (very rare) tri- and tetraploids (dominant) were found in the native range of this species. Disregarding the diploid var. sericea, diploids and tetraploids of the nominate variety showed largely parapatric distribution in the native range, with a zone of overlap in the Northern Cape Province. Our results challenge the conventional scenario of the introduction of pentaploid individuals from the Greater Cape Floristic Region. The origin of the pentaploid cytotype is unclear and molecular tools applied in a large scale screening are needed to understand the invasion history of the species.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Oxalis pes-caprae (weed)		South Africa