Partitioning of genetic variation in the weedy clonal herb Aegopodium podagraria (Apiaceae) in Sweden

Abstract

Although sexual reproduction appears to be rare in many clonal plant species, the majority of clonal species show similar levels of genetic variation to non‐clonal plant species. Aegopodium podagraria is a noxious garden weed and has become a successful invader in many natural habitats. Earlier studies have demonstrated population differentiation in life‐history traits between different A. podagraria populations in Sweden. In this study, we used three methods to assess genetic variation in this species. Using analyses of molecular markers (chloroplast DNA PCR‐RFLP and allozyme electrophoresis) we did not detect any variation between different A. podagraria clones. However, a multivariate analysis of leaflet shape in five populations from central Sweden revealed considerable variation both within and between populations. The variation found in leaflet shape is suggested to be genetically based because the leaves were collected from plants grown from seed under similar conditions in a common garden environment. These relatively high levels of variation within and between populations indicate that there is likely to be repeated seedling recruitment within established populations.1

Geographic and Habitat Origin Influence Biomass Production and Storage Translocation in the Clonal Plant Aegopodium podagraria

“…The difference in biomass between genetically identical ramets placed in the North and the South demonstrated that there was strong phenotypic plasticity in Aegopodium . In addition, clones originating from the South and from the North differed in biomass production, suggesting genetically based differentiation between populations, which has previously been found among Aegopodium populations [35]. Contrary to our hypothesis, clones from North Sweden grew larger than plants from South Sweden at both experimental garden sites.…”

“…Clones consist of several ramets which have the potential to share resources among them [33] . The compound leaves of Aegopodium become more complex when the plant develops from juvenile to an adult stage [35] . The small, white, five-petaled flowers are organized in compound umbels of 280–1400 flowers, and the shoots are up to 1 m tall [36] .…”