Low genetic diversity in the Scottish endemicPrimula scoticaHook.

Abstract

S t J M M .\ R YPrimtila scotica Hook., a rare Scottish endemic, is threatened with extinction due to habitat destruction. A survey of genetic variability within the species was conducted on fi\-e populations from the Orkney islands and nine from the Scottish mainland. Isozyme analysis revealed variation between individuals at only one of 15 enzyme encoding loci examined, while a survey of DNA sequence variation via RAPD analysis revealed no genetic diversity either within or between a subsample of four populations surveyed. Individuals exbibited a 'fixed' heterozygous genotype at seven of the enzyme encoding loci, indicating that P. scotica is of allopolyploid origin. Despite the high level of heterozygosity per individual and the biochemical diversity that may stem from it, the species remains restricted to a very specific habitat. Implications for the conserx-ation of the species are considered, including the need for habitat protection.

Genetic differentiation and antioxidant activities ofBouea macrophyllaGriffith in Nakhon Nayok province

“…The result indicated relatively low level in genetic variation of mayong population in comparison to other populations. It may result from cumulative inbreeding within population and habitat restriction (Ellstrand and Elam 1993;Glover and Abbott 1995). In addition to the result above, mean difference of width, length and leaf tail among populations was analyzed by one-way ANOVA.…”

Seed weight and seed number affect subsequent fitness in outcrossing and selfing Primula species

“…(14i) (Richards, 1993). In P. scotica, the very low level of genetic variability detected caused Glover & Abbott (1995) to suggest that little cross-fertilization occurs in wild populations, although this has since been questioned (Ennos et al, 1997).…”

Strong Genetic Differentiation of Primula sikkimensis in the East Himalaya–Hengduan Mountains

“…For example, high genetic diversity has been found in P. interjacens, a species with distylous flowers with a narrow distribution in Yunnan (Xue et al 2004). In contrast, low genetic diversity has been found in P. scotica, which lacks heterostylous flowers and has an inbreeding system (Glover and Abbott 1995). Genetic differentiation is expected to be particularly weak in populations of long-lived, perennial, outcrossing species (Loveless and Hamrick 1984), and accordingly reported levels of differentiation are very low for the congenerics P. elatior (G ST : 0.04) (Jacquemyn et al 2004 (Reisch et al 2005).…”