Reticulate phylogenetic patterns in diploid European Diphasiastrum (Lycopodiaceae).

• In Central Europe, three species belonging to Diphasiastrum are considered to be of homoploid hybrid origin. Diphasiastrum issleri is suggested to have originated from a cross between D. alpinum and D. complanatum, D. oellgaardii from D. alpinum and D. tristachyum, and D. zeilleri from D. complanatum and D. tristachyum. Variation at three nuclear regions and two chloroplast microsatellites verify the presence of all three putative parental combinations in Europe. Data obtained with Feulgen DNA image densitometry confirms that all specimens displaying such pattern are diploid. Also, two of three parental combinations have probably arisen repeatedly, implied by the occurrence of chloroplast haplotypes associated with different parents. The presented dataset cannot be used as argument for the existence of independent evolutionary entities hybrid origin. This is nonetheless an important first step in order to address the influence of reticulate evolutionary events in European Diphasiastrum. 

Nyckelord

Keywords – Diphasiastrum

homoploid hybridization

Lycopodiaceae

Lycopodium

low copy nuclear genes

phylogenies

Feulgen DNA image densitometry

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vet (ämneskategori)

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