Flower colour variation in the montane plant Gentiana lutea L. (Gentianaceae) is unrelated to abiotic factors

Abstract

Background: Flower colour variation among populations may result from the spatial variation of selective agents. The structure of phenotypic variation informs on the ecological processes related to this variation. Variation in floral traits is mainly attributed to variation in the pollinator fauna, while variation in vegetative traits is usually linked to abiotic factors or herbivores.Aims: We investigated the geographical variation of flower colour (and correlated traits) in Gentiana lutea and the relationship with the variation in abiotic factors.Methods: Phenotypic variation (flower colour, petal length, petal width, stalk length, leaf length, flower number, petal number and number of basal leaves) was assessed in 429 plants of 12 populations located at north-west Iberia. Additionally, we obtained data on the geographical coordinates, elevation, temperature, rainfall and radiation for each population.Results: Populations mostly differed in flower colour, from orange to yellow from west to the east. Abiotic factors were unrelated to variation in either floral or vegetative traits.Conclusions: Phenotypic variation among G. lutea populations does not result from adaptation to environmental factors. Other factors, such as historical events or selective pressure exerted by biotic interactions, might explain the flower colour variation in G. lutea along the Cantabrian Range.