Clonal Structure, Genotypic Diversity, and Seed Production in Populations of Filipendula Rubra (Rosaceae) From the Northcentral United States

Abstract

Queen of the prairie, Filipendula rubra (Rosaceae), is a clonal plant species inhabiting calcareous fens and wet meadows of the northcentral United States. F. rubra reproduces asexually by underground rhizomes and sexually by seed. While many studies have explored genotype diversity in clonal species with limited sexual reproduction, fewer have been conducted on clonal species with the potential for extensive sexual reproduction. We studied the relationship between the extent of sexual reproduction and genotype diversity. Although genotype diversity in F. rubra was double that reported by others for 27 nearly obligate clonal plant species, it was still quite low. For 25 populations studied, the mean number of genotypes was 5.5 (range = 1–15; SE = 0.964) and the average proportion of distinguishable genotypes was 0.38 (range = 0.03–1.00; SE = 0.07). The production of viable seed was quite variable among populations (mean proportion of viable seeds = 0.242; range = 0.002–0.565; SE = 0.04). Considering that some inflorescences can produce over 5,000 seeds, the potential for recruitment of sexually produced individuals is very large. No correlation was found between seed production and genotype diversity as was expected in a self‐incompatible species in which one‐third of the populations possessed a single genotype. It was hypothesized that the low genotype diversity found in numerous populations may be due to competition limiting recruitment of new seedlings.

Causes and consequences of extreme variation in reproductive strategy and vegetative growth among invasive populations of a clonal aquatic plant, Butomus umbellatus L. (Butomaceae)

“…Though the relative importance of sexual vs clonal reproduction may vary widely within species, few studies have quantified intraspecific variation in sexuality (e.g., McKee and Richards 1996;Dorken and Eckert 2001), and fewer still have identified the ecological and/or genetic causes (e.g., Barrett 1980a, b;Piquot et al 1998;Eckert et al 1999) or consequences of reproductive variation (e.g., Aspinwall and Christian 1992;Dorken and Eckert 2001). Variation in reproductive mode is usually thought to involve factors that limit the production and recruitment of sexual progeny.…”

Asexual and sexual reproductive strategies in clonal plants

“…Vigorous clonal growth may decrease local sexual reproductive success. However, we note that there is also evidence that seed production has no relation with population size (Aspinwall and Christian, 1992).…”

Genetic structure of farmer-managed varieties in clonally-propagated crops

“…The idea underlying all of these analyses was that a lot of genotypes in a single population would indicate recruitment of many sexual reproduction products, while low diversity in a single population should indicate the introduction of many asexual products. The analyses were mostly conducted with markers such as RAPD or isozymes (Auge et al 2001;Gabrielsen and Brochmann 1998;Kjølner et al 2006;Ellstrand and Roose 1987;Aspinwall and Christian 1992;Dorken and Eckert 2001). Although these markers allow calculation of the genotypic diversity, they cannot be used to infer the relation between each genotype.…”