Abstract
The diploid A. glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. is widespread throughout the European continent, except in the Iberian and Balkan Peninsulas where tetraploid populations have been discovered. We focused on the tetraploid species described as A. rohlenae Vít, Douda and Mandák that occupies the western part of the Balkan Peninsula, where it has likely completely replaced the diploid species. While the distribution range of the diploid A. glutinosa s. str. is well known, the exact distribution range of the tetraploid A. rohlenae is unknown. Here, we report the first exact distribution of the tetraploid A. rohlenae and the anticipated hybrid zones in which it is in contact with diploid populations using flow cytometry and morphometrics. Tetraploids are located primarily in the mountainous parts of the study area and towards the lowlands are gradually being replaced by diploids, forming a contact zone. We compare the main morphological characteristics of both species. Due to the geographical proximity of the study species, the morphological differences between them are clear outside the contact zones. However, within the contact zones, we recorded hybridisations that obscure the morphological differences between species, probably due to the presence of triploid hybrids.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ackerly DD, Dudley SA, Sultan SE et al (2000) The evolution of plant ecophysiological traits: recent advances and future directions. Bioscience 50:979–995. https://doi.org/10.1641/00063568(2000)050[0979:TEOPET]2.0.CO;2
Aleza P, Juárez J, Ollitrault P, Navarro L (2009) Production of tetraploid plants of non-apomictic citrus genotypes. Plant Cell Rep 28:1837–1846. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-009-0783-2
Aleza P, Juárez J, Cuenca J, Ollitrault P, Navarro L (2010) Recovery of citrus triploid hybrids by embryo rescue and flow cytometry from 2x × 2x sexual hybridisation and its application to extensive breeding programs. Plant Cell Rep 29:1023–1034. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-010-0888-7
Aleza P, Juárez J, Cuenca J, Ollitrault P, Navarro L (2012) Extensive citrus triploid hybrid production by 2x × 4x sexual hybridizations and parent-effect on the length of the juvenile phase. Plant Cell Rep 31:1723–1735. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-012-1286-0
Beatty GE, Montgomery WI, Tosh DG, Provan J (2015) Genetic provenance and best practice woodland management: a case study in native alder (Alnus glutinosa). Tree Genet Genomes 11(5):92. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11295-015-0919-1
Bomblies K (2020) When everything changes at once: finding a new normal after genome duplication. Proc R Soc B Biol Sci 287(1939):20202154. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.2154
Caković D, Stešević D, Schönswetter P, Frajman B (2015) How many taxa? Spatiotemporal evolution and taxonomy of Amphoricarpos (Asteraceae, Carduoideae) on the Balkan Peninsula. Org Divers Evol 15:429–445. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13127-015-0218-6
Cires E, Cuesta C, Peredo EL, Revilla MÁ, Prieto JAF (2009) Genome size variation and morphological differentiation within Ranunculus parnassifolius group (Ranunculaceae) from calcareous screes in the Northwest of Spain. Plant Syst Evol 281:193–208. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-009-0201-9
Cubry P, Gallagher E, O’Connor E, Kelleher CT (2015) Phylogeography and population genetics of black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) in Ireland: putting it in a European context. Tree Genet Genomes 11:1–15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11295-015-0924-4
Dawson JO (1990) Interactions among actinorhizal and associated plant species. In: Schwintzer CR, Tjepkema JD (eds) The biology of Frankia and actinorhizal plants. Academic Press, San Diego, California, pp 299–316
Doležel J, Greilhuber J, Suda J (2007) Estimation of nuclear DNA content in plants using flow cytometry. Nat Protoc 2:2233–2244. https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2007.310
Douda J, Doudová J, Drašnarová A et al (2014) Migration patterns of subgenus Alnus in Europe since the last glacial maximum: a systematic review. PLoS ONE 9(2):1–14. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0088709
Griffiths HI, Kryštufek B, Reed JM (2004) Balkan biodiversity - pattern and process in the European hotspot. Springer, Berlin
Hardion L, Verlaque R, Saltonstall K, Leriche A, Vila B (2014) Origin of the invasive Arundo donax (Poaceae): a trans-Asian expedition in herbaria. Ann Bot 114:455–462. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcu143
Havrdová A, Douda J, Krak K et al (2015) Higher genetic diversity in recolonized areas than in refugia of Alnus glutinosa triggered by continent-wide lineage admixture. Mol Ecol 24:4759–4777. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.13348
King AR, Ferris C (1998) Chloroplast DNA phylogeography of Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. Mol Ecol 7:1151–1161
Koutecký P (2015) MorphoTools: a set of R functions for morphometric analysis. Plant Syst Evol 301:1115–1121. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-014-1153-2
Kučera J, Tremetsberger K, Vojta J, Marhold K (2008) Molecular study of the Cardamine maritima group (Brassicaceae) from the Balkan and Apennine Peninsulas based on amplified fragment length polymorphism. Plant Syst Evol 275:193–207. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-008-0061-8
Liu J, Ren B-Q, Luo P, Ren Z-L (2009) Karyotype Analysis of Alnus Mill. (Betulaceae) species originating from northeastern Asia. Silvae Genet 59:219–223. https://doi.org/10.1515/sg-2010-0026
Liu K, Meng W, Zheng L, Wang L, Zhou S (2019) Cytogeography and chromosomal variation of the endemic east Asian herb Lycoris radiata. Ecol Evol 9(12):6849–6859. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5252
Madlung A (2013) Polyploidy and its effect on evolutionary success: old questions revisited with new tools. Heredity 110:99–104. https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.2012.79
Maherali H, Walden AE, Husband BC (2009) Genome duplication and the evolution of physiological responses to water stress. New Phytol 184:721–731. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.02997.x
Mandák B, Vít P, Krak K et al (2016) Flow cytometry, microsatellites and niche models reveal the origins and geographical structure of Alnus glutinosa populations in Europe. Ann Bot 117:107–120. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcv158
McVean DN (1953) Account of Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. for the biological flora of the British Isles. J Ecol 41:447–466. https://doi.org/10.2307/2257070
McVean DN (1956) Ecology of Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. III. Seedling establishment V. Notes of some British Alder populations. J Ecol 44:115–218. https://doi.org/10.2307/2256824
R Core Team (2014) R: a language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. URL http://www.R-project.org/
Ramsey J (2011) Polyploidy and ecological adaptation in wild yarrow. Proc Natl Acad Sci 108:7096–7101. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1016631108
Ramsey J, Ramsey TS (2014) Ecological studies of polyploidy in the 100 years following its discovery. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 369(1648):20130352. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2013.0352
Schönswetter P, Lachmayer M, Lettner C et al (2007) Sympatric diploid and hexaploid cytotypes of Senecio carniolicus (Asteraceae) in the eastern Alps are separated along an altitudinal gradient. J Plant Res 120(6):721–725. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-007-0108-x
Šingliarová B, Hodálová I, Mráz P (2011) Biosystematic study of the diploid-polyploid Pilosella alpicola group (Asteraceae) with variation in breeding system: patterns and processes. Taxon 60:450–470. https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.602014
Šmíd J, Douda J, Krak K, Mandák B (2020) Analyses of population genetic differentiation and hybrid viability across a hybrid zone between two Alnus species using microsatellites and cpDNA markers. Genes 11(7):770. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11070770
Šmíd J, Douda J, Krak K, Mandák B, Phylogeography of Alnus glutinosa and A. rohlenae (Betulaceae) on the Balkan Peninsula, inferred from chloroplast DNA sequences, microsatellites and niche modelling. (unpublished; manuscript in preparation).
Sotiropoulos K, Eleftherakos K, Džukić G et al (2007) Phylogeny and biogeography of the alpine newt Mesotriton alpestris (Salamandridae, Caudata), inferred from mtDNA sequences. Mol Phylogenetics Evol 45:211–226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2007.03.012
Surina B, Schönswetter P, Schneeweiss GM (2011) Quaternary range dynamics of ecologically divergent species (Edraianthus serpyllifolius and E. tenuifolius, Campanulaceae) within the Balkan refugium. J Biogeogr 38:1381–1393. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2011.02493.x
Surina B, Pflanzelt S, Einzmann HJR, Albach DC (2014) Bridging the Alps and the middle east: evolution, phylogeny and systematics of the genus Wulfenia Jacq. (Plantaginaceae). Taxon 63:843–858. https://doi.org/10.12705/634.18
Vanderhoeven S, Hardy O, Vekemans X et al (2002) A morphometric study of populations of the Centaurea jacea complex (Asteraceae) in Belgium. Plant Biol 4:403–412. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2002-32327
Vít P, Douda J, Krak K, Havrdová A, Mandák B (2017) Two new polyploid species closely related to Alnus glutinosa in Europe and north Africa – an analysis based on morphometry, karyology, flow cytometry and microsatellites. Taxon 66(3):567–583. https://doi.org/10.12705/663.4
Yang XH, Yang JH, Luo CJ (2000) Review and prospect of mulberry polyploidy breeding. Agric Sci Zhejiang 6:304–306
Acknowledgements
We would like to especially thank to Jakub Polák, Eva Hodková, Vít Dvořák, Petr Chajma and Kateřina Machynková for their help with data collection, data analysis and laboratory work. Sandy Lang and Gabrielle A. Filippi are thanked for helping with the language of the manuscript. This study was supported by the Czech Science Foundation (18-03028S) and is part of long-term research development project RVO 67985939. Other financial support was provided by Grant agency of CULS (CIGA00002052).
Funding
Czech Science Foundation (number 18-03028S); Grant agency of CULS (CIGA00002052).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors have not disclosed any competing interests.
Code availability
Not applicable.
Data availability
Data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Additional information
Communicated by Oliver Gailing.
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Šmíd, J., Vít, P., Douda, J. et al. Distribution, hybridisation and morphological variation in Alnus rohlenae (Betulaceae) an endemic species of the Balkan Peninsula. Eur J Forest Res 141, 641–648 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-022-01466-4
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-022-01466-4