Intraspecific differentiation of Reed Grass Calamagrostis arundinacea (L.) Roth (Poaceae) populations revealed by peroxidase allozymes

Maria Krzakowa,Zbigniew Celka

doi:10.5586/asbp.2008.038

Maria Krzakowa, Zbigniew Celka

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5586/asbp.2008.038

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Abstract

The genetic Variation of Reed Grass <em>Calamagrostis arundinacea</em> (L.) Roth was investigated in 25 populations in various geographic regions of Poland. A total of 907 individuals were sampled for electrophoretic analysis of peroxidase loci (11 allozymes). Populations were characterised by genetic parameters e.g. heterozygosity level, Wright's fixation index (F) and polymorphism coefficient (Pg). Mean values of interpopulation variability level (GST=0.0310), total genetic diversity (HT=0.4102) and gene flow between populations (Nm=7.805) were also examined. All the populations were polymorphic and they remain in Hardy Weinberg equilibrium.

Highlights

Species of the genus Calamagrostis are highly variable (Mirek et al 2002; Rutkowski 2002) and considered to be some of the most difficult grass species to identify (Frey and Paszko 1999)
In Poland, C. arundinacea used to be regarded as a variable species and differences in respect of panicle morphology enabled distinction of three varieties, including var. alpina (Schur) Matuszk., var. grandiflora Litv., var. macrotricha Litv. (Falkowski 1982)
Little is known about the genetic subdivision within the species, so the purpose of this study was to estimate the level of genetic variability and differences among C. arundinacea populations growing in different habitats and plant associations all over the country

Summary

Introduction

Species of the genus Calamagrostis are highly variable (Mirek et al 2002; Rutkowski 2002) and considered to be some of the most difficult grass species to identify (Frey and Paszko 1999). Reed Grass, C. arundinacea (L.) Roth, is a typical forest species, found in parts of Poland, but less frequently in the south-western part of the country i.e. in Silesia region (Zaj1c and Zaj1c 2001). In mountains it grows in natural habitats of the Sudety Mts., and the Carpathians (Mirek and Piêko-Mirkowa 2002). It is a typical species for the community of Central-European acidophilic oak forests Calamagrostio arundinaceae Quercetum petraeae, most closely resembling the continental mixed forests of the class Vaccinio Piceetea (Brzeg et al 1989, 2001; Matuszkiewicz 2001). Calamagrostis species were intensively investigated in respect to anatomical features, especially the internal culm structure (Paszko and Krawczyk 2005)

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