Diploid Ruppia cirrhosa populations from a southern Mediterranean shallow system

Abstract

This paper focuses on the morphology and karyology of representative Ruppia populations from a southern Mediterranean shallow system. The cosmopolitan genus Ruppia L. generally inhabits shallow waters such as coastal lagoons and brackish habitats. Ruppia species are characterised by a simplified morphology and high intraspecific phenotypic plasticity. The chromosome number of Sicilian Ruppia populations is reported here for the first time. The analysed populations showed morphological and reproductive characters of Ruppia cirrhosa (Petagna) Grande but a diploid cytotype (2n=20). A low fruit production was also observed, suggesting that vegetative reproduction is the main reproductive strategy adopted by the plant. This study did not resolve conclusively the taxonomic identity of these Ruppia populations and it also raises some open questions, needing further investigations.