Evidence of hybridization between Galatella villosa and G. linosyris, and a taxonomic reappraisal of the hybrid G. xsubvillosa

At the westernmost distribution of the steppe herbaceous plant, Galatella villosa, in Hungary, Serbia and Ukraine, we recently observed intermediate specimens between this species and its close relative, G. linosyris. We were able to demonstrate the hybrid origin of these individuals by sequencing the biparentally inherited nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) region and checking additive polymorphism in the hybrids. In addition, examination of the maternally inherited plastid regions (trnH-psbA and trnL-trnF intergenic spacers) revealed that G. villosa is likely to be the maternal parent in the Hungarian and Ukrainian populations and G. linosyris in the Serbian population. The intermediate forms produced only sterile seeds. The alleged hybrid between the above two species has already been described as G. xsubvillosa based on a very brief diagnosis. Still, the analysis of the morphological characters using linear discriminant analyses clearly separated the holotype of G. xsubvillosa from individuals of G. linosyris x G. villosa. The latter appeared to be morphologically intermediate between populations of G. villosa and G. linosyris. Contrary to the originally stated hybrid origin of the type plants of G. xsubvillosa, morphological evidence indicates the involvement of G. divaricata not G. linosyris. The hybrid G. linosyris x G. villosa is thus described here, as a new nothospecies G. xfeketegaborii. This study highlights the power of easily available molecular phylogenetic tools for demonstrating the hybrid origin of plants and illustrates how additive polymorphism can be distinguished from other types of intraindividual polymorphism in nuclear DNA sequences.Peer reviewe

Geographical location of analyzed populations of <i>Pulsatilla patens</i> s.s.

<p>Geographical location of analyzed populations of <i>Pulsatilla patens</i> s.s.</p

Mean genetic diversity parameters for three clusters identified by the STRUCTURE analysis.

<p>Mean genetic diversity parameters for three clusters identified by the STRUCTURE analysis.</p

The relationschip between genetic distances (pairwise <i>F</i>_st) and geographic distances for a 29 sampled populations of <i>Pulsatilla patens</i>.

<p>P. values were derived from Mantel tests.Note log scales for geographic distances.</p

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of the Rare and Endangered Plant Species <i>Pulsatilla patens (L</i>.<i>) Mill</i> in East Central Europe

<div><p><i>Pulsatilla patens</i> s.s. is a one of the most endangered plant species in Europe. The present range of this species in Europe is highly fragmented and the size of the populations has been dramatically reduced in the past 50 years. The rapid disappearance of <i>P</i>. <i>patens</i> localities in Europe has prompted the European Commission to initiate active protection of this critically endangered species. The aim of this study was to estimate the degree and distribution of genetic diversity within European populations of this endangered species. We screened 29 populations of <i>P</i>. <i>patens</i> using a set of six microsatellite primers. The results of our study indicate that the analyzed populations are characterized by low levels of genetic diversity (<i>H</i>_<i>o</i> = 0.005) and very high levels of inbreeding (<i>F</i>_<i>IS</i> = 0.90). These results suggest that genetic erosion could be partially responsible for the lower fitness in smaller populations of this species. Private allelic richness was very low, being as low as 0.00 for most populations. Average genetic diversity over loci and mean number of alleles in <i>P</i>. <i>patens</i> populations were significantly correlated with population size, suggesting severe genetic drift. The results of AMOVA point to higher levels of variation within populations than between populations.The results of Structure and PCoA analyses suggest that the genetic structure of the studied <i>P</i>. <i>patens</i> populations fall into three clusters corresponding to geographical regions. The most isolated populations (mostly from Romania) formed a separate group with a homogeneous gene pool located at the southern, steppic part of the distribution range. Baltic, mostly Polish, populations fall into two genetic groups which were not fully compatible with their geographic distribution.Our results indicate the serious genetic depauperation of <i>P</i>. <i>patens</i> in the western part of its range, even hinting at an ongoing extinction vortex. Therefore, special conservation attention is required to maintain the populations of this highly endangered species of European Community interest.</p></div

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of the Rare and Endangered Plant Species <i>Pulsatilla patens (L</i>.<i>) Mill</i> in East Central Europe - Fig 1

<p>a) General distribution of <i>P</i>. <i>patens</i> in Europe (redrawn and slightly modified after Meusel et. al 1965). b) The location of 29 populations analyzed in this study. Each locations are represented by circles, and colors represent the genetic groups to which individuals within each site were assigned based on STRUCTURE results using K = 3 and a prior that takes sampling location into account–admixture analysis c) non admixture analysis.</p

Population structure of 598 samples of <i>Pulsatilla patens</i> s.s. uncovered by STRUCTURE (K = 3); colors represent the groups identified; each individuals is represented by vertical line, each population is represented by one chart, showing the proportion of membership to the different clusters.

<p>a) admixture analysis; b) non admixture analysis.</p

The World Saffron and Crocus collection: strategies for establishment, management, characterisation and utilisation

[EN] Since 2007, the European Commission AGRI GEN RES 018 "CROCUSBANK" action has permitted the creation of the alleged World Saffron and Crocus Collection (WSCC), a unique collection which contains a representation of the genetic variability present in saffron crop and wild relatives at global scale. At present the germplasm collection, housed at the Bank of Plant Germplasm of Cuenca (BGV-CU, Spain), consists of 572 preserved accessions representing 47 different Crocus species (including saffron Crocus) and is expected to increase up to more than 600 accessions by the end of CROCUSBANK action (May 2011). The preserved biodiversity of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) covers a wide range of the genetic variability of the crop and currently consists of 220 accessions from 15 countries: 169 of these come from European cultivation countries, 18 from commercial areas in non EU countries, 26 from regions of minimal or relict production and/or from abandoned fields and 7 from commercial nurseries. The non-saffron Crocus collection currently comprises 352 accessions: 179 collected from the wild in 12 countries of natural distribution, 24 from donations of public and private institutions, 91 from commercial nurseries and 58 acquired from BGV-CU collection management. Here we provide a record of collections, activities concerns and current strategies for documentation, conservation, characterisation, and management of the collection as important tools for researchers with interest in these valuable genetic resources.Many of the results presented in this paper are an outcome of the project "Genetic Resources of Saffron and Allies" (CROCUSBANK, http://www.crocusbank.org). This action receives financial support from the European Commission, Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development, under the Council Regulation (EC) No. 870/2004 establishing a Community Programme on the conservation, characterisation, collection, and utilisation of genetic resources in Agriculture (018 AGRI GEN RES ACTION). In addition some of the activities presented took a long period of time and have been partially supported by the following projects or actions: RFP-1 (Consejeria de Agricultura, JCCM, Spain), 05-172/IA-35 (Consejeria de Agricultura, JCCM, Spain), PAI09-0021-0413 and PBI09-0025-1537 (Consejeria de Educacion y Ciencia, JCCM, Spain), RF2008-0012-C03 (Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria, MEC, Spain), RF2004-0032-C03 (Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria, MEC, Spain). Special thanks to the following donor's institutions: Regulatory Council for the "La Mancha Saffron" designation of origin (DOP, La Mancha, Spain); The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University (Denmark); Asociacion de Naturalistas del Sureste (ANSE, Spain); Centro de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agroalimentaria de Aragon (CITA, Spain); MTS Schipper & Elberse (Holland); Botanic Garden Utrecht University (The Netherlands); National Botanic Garden of Belgium (Belgium); Jardin Alpin du Lautaret (France); Frega S. R. L. (Argentina); Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques de la Ville Geneve (Switzerland); Herbario Sant (Spain); Conservatoire Botanique National de Brest (France); Jardin des Plantes Medicinales et Aromatiques (France); Baby Brand Saffron (India); Azienda Agricola di Di Marco Amalia (Italy); Azienda Agricola IL Vecchio Maneggio (Italy); New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research (New Zealand); Ljubljana University Botanic Garden (Slovenia) and the Afghanistan Government. We thank very much the traditional saffron growers of different countries (Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Iran, Morocco, etc.), associations, companies, researchers, forest rangers and all the people who have contributed with materials included in the collection (for more detailed information see the website www.crocusbank.org).Fernandez, J.; Santana, O.; Guardiola, J.; Molina Romero, RV.; Heslop-Harrison, P.; Borbely, G.; Branca, F.... (2011). The World Saffron and Crocus collection: strategies for establishment, management, characterisation and utilisation. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 58(1):125-137. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-010-9601-5S125137581Abdullaev FI (2002) Cancer chemopreventive and tumoricidal properties of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Exp Biol Med Maywood 227:20–25Abdullaev FI (2004) Antitumor effect of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Overview and perspectives. 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