Morphological and genome size variations within populations of Edraianthus graminifolius “Jugoslavicus” (Campanulaceae) from the central Balkan peninsula

Tamara Rakic,Sonia Siljak−Yakovlev,V Stevanovic,D Lakusic,Jasmina Sinzar-Sekulic,Branka Stevanovic,Maja Lazarevic

doi:10.2298/abs1402743r

Tamara Rakic, Sonia Siljak−Yakovlev + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.2298/abs1402743r

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Abstract

The E. graminifolius complex is widely distributed in the continental part of the central and western Balkan Peninsula and is characterized by pronounced morphological variability. Plants grow on different geological substrates, span a wide altitudinal range and inhabit heterogeneous microclimatic conditions. The aim of this study was to compare morpho-anatomical and genome size variations among 31 populations of E. graminifolius, and to correlate morphoanatomical characteristics of plants with the geomorphologic and bioclimatic characteristics of their habitats. For these purposes, multivariate statistical analyses were performed. Results showed that most of morphological variability could be explained as the adaptive responses of plants to diverse environmental conditions that accompany life at different altitudes. Populations from SE Serbia had larger genome size in respect to other investigated populations. Genome size was bigger in sympatric populations of Edraianthus then in allopatric ones. Apart from the general morphological variability, plants from the Ovcar-Kablar Gorge are particularly morphologically specific.

Highlights

The genus Edraianthus represents one of the taxonomically and biogeographically most interesting and polymorphic genera of the Balkan flora
Detailed morphological investigations showed that E. graminifolius “jugoslavicus” is characterized by exceptional morphological variability, especially related to stem height, shape and dimensions of involucral bracts and flowers, as well as to the general presence, density and orientation of hairs (Fig. 2, Table 2)
Plants from the Ovčar-Kablar Gorge are densely covered with hairs that are especially pronounced on the adaxial leaf side and directed to the leaf apex, or orientated in all directions, except towards the leaf base

Summary

Introduction

The genus Edraianthus represents one of the taxonomically and biogeographically most interesting and polymorphic genera of the Balkan flora. It has drawn the attention of some well-known botanists, which resulted in three published monographs related to the morphological characteristics and taxonomy of this genus (Wettstein, 1887; Janchen, 1910; Lakušić, 1974). The genus Edraianthus was the subject of extensive molecular phylogenetic and phylogeographic (Stefanović et al, 2008; Surina et al, 2011), cytogenetic (Medjedović, 1981; Medjedović et al, 2007; Siljak-Yakovlev et al, 2010), taxonomic (Lakušić et al, 2009; Surina et al, 2009; Surina and Lakušić, 2010), and morpho-anatomical studies (Rakić, 2010; Rakić et al, 2012).

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