DNA ploidy levels and intraspecific DNA content variability in Romanian fescues (Festuca, Poaceae) measured in fresh and herbarium material
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2006 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Folia Geobotanica |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Botany |
| Keywords | Balkan Peninsula; Festuca ovina group; Festuca valesiaca group; Festuca sect. Eskia; Flow cytometry; Intraspecific genome size variability; Polyploidy |
| Description | DNA ploidy level estimates of 11 species and two natural hybrids of Festuca sampled from 39 locations in Romania are presented. Altogether, 48 living samples (of which 22 one-year-old herbarium specimens were available), and additional 65 one-year-old herbarium specimens were analysed using flow cytometry with DAPI staining. The following DNA ploidy levels were assessed: F. callieri (4x), F. ovina (2x), F. pallens (2x), F. polesica (2x), F. pseudodalmatica (2x, 4x, 5x), F. pseudovaginata (2x), F. pseudovina (2x), F. pseudovina x F. rupicola (4x), F. rupicola (6x), F. vaginata (2x), F. vaginata x F. valesiaca (2x), F. valesiaca (2x) and F. xanthina (2x). Festuca pseudovaginata is reported for the flora of Romania for the first time. Measurements of one-year-old herbarium specimens produced significantly smaller sample/standard ratios (P<0.001) and higher coefficients of variance (P<0.001) when compared with fresh plant samples. Several species exhibited marked intraspecific DNA content variability, documented by non-overlapping double-peaks or bimodal peaks in simultaneous measurements. Maximum difference of about 9.2% in relative DNA content was observed in F. pallens, 5.5% in F. polesica, 4.2% in F. vaginata, and 3.8% in F. rupicola. Diploid F. xanhina (Festuca sect. Eskia Willk.) had 1.39–1.58 times higher monoploid relative DNA content in relation to the species of section Festuca. |
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