Abstract
Morningglories (Ipomoea spp.) are among the most troublesome weedy species in agroecological environments. Ipomoea lacunosa is one of the most prevalent of these species. Localized adaptations resulted in the evolution of several I. lacunosa ecotypes in North America, which could potentially impact its response to crop management practices. To evaluate the genetic diversity and population structure of I. lacunosa populations, we amplified inter-simple sequence repeats loci by polymerase chain reaction (ISSR-PCR) of 64 accessions using 14 ISSR primers for Ipomoea. Of these, 64 polymorphic fragments were scored. Analysis of Nei’s genetic distance (GD) values placed the accessions into four genotypic clusters, two of which were composed primarily of accessions from Arkansas and Mississippi with GD between clusters of 0.318. The overall GD was 0.238, indicating a narrow genetic base. Population structure analysis determined three ancestral subgroups, with the majority of Arkansas and Mississippi accessions separated into two subgroups. The existence of various genotypes and ecotypes of I. lacunosa demonstrates the evolutionary diversification of this weedy species as it adapts to new colonized environments and agricultural activities.
Highlights
Plant communities in agroecosystems undergo rapid changes in composition, phenology, or genetic makeup because of exposure to strong selection factors as crop growers implement measures to favor crop growth
Analysis of Nei’s genetic distance (GD) values placed the accessions into four genotypic clusters, two of which were composed primarily of accessions from Arkansas and Mississippi with GD between clusters of 0.318
ISSR markers have been used to study the genetic diversity of crops including barley [47], rice [48], sweet potato [20], AJPS
Summary
Plant communities in agroecosystems undergo rapid changes in composition, phenology, or genetic makeup because of exposure to strong selection factors as crop growers implement measures to favor crop growth. Examples of such activities include tillage, irrigation, fertilizer application, and use of herbicides to remove or minimize competition from weedy species. The morningglory (Convolvulaceae) plant family is among such plant families that are well adapted to agroecosystems and are serious weeds in many crops This family is composed of Ipomoea and Jacquemontia species, which are generally viney annuals or perennials [1]. There are more than 500 Ipomoea species worldwide [2], 342 of which exist in the Americas [3]
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