Evidence for phylogeographic structure in Lolium species related to the spread of agriculture in Europe. A cpDNA study

Dated historical biogeography of the temperate Loliinae (Poaceae, Pooideae) grasses in the northern and southern hemispheres

“…The divergence estimates obtained for the most recently evolved Mediterranean ray-grasses {L. perennejL. rigidum; 1 My) suggest an interglacial Pleistocene origin for these fodder grasses, contradicting the previous hypothesis that their origin was human-mediated (Balfourier et al, 2000) (Fig. 3).…”

“…The origin of most of the Loliinae lineages and of other temperate grasses has been usually associated with the recent geological and climatic changes of the late Tertiary and the Quaternary periods (Stebbins, 1985;Charmet et al, 1997;Balfourier et al, 2000;Fjellheim et al, 2006). Previous molecular-clock estimates deduced from the divergence between rice and wheat indicate a late Miocene (9 My) origin of the broad-leaved and fine-leaved Festuca lineages (Charmet et al, 1997), supporting these recent historical scenarios.…”

Extremely high cytoplasmic diversity in natural and breeding populations of Lolium (Poaceae)

“…perenne is thought to have originated in the Near East, with Europe as a secondary centre of origin (Balfourier et al, 2000). It has subsequently been introduced to almost all of the rest of the temperate world (Charmet et al, 1996).…”

“…cpDNA RFLP polymorphisms have been used to assess phylogeographic structure in wild-Lolium populations and to infer methods and pathways of geographic migration of Lolium populations (Balfourier et al, 2000). Balfourier et al (2000) recognized three major clusters of haplotypes in their European sample of Lolium. Their results suggest a single origin for Lolium as well as a geographical structure following an east/west cline, matching known historical processes such as the emergence of agriculture and cereal crops from the Fertile Crescent 10 000 years ago and the spread of these crops towards Europe.…”

“…It has subsequently been introduced to almost all of the rest of the temperate world (Charmet et al, 1996). cpDNA RFLP polymorphisms have been used to assess phylogeographic structure in wild-Lolium populations and to infer methods and pathways of geographic migration of Lolium populations (Balfourier et al, 2000). Balfourier et al (2000) recognized three major clusters of haplotypes in their European sample of Lolium.…”