Genetic Diversity of L. (Hydrocharitaceae) Stands across Europe.

Intense land use and river regulations have led to the destruction of wetland habitats in the past 150 years. One plant that is affected by the reduction in appropriate habitats is the macrophyte which has become rare in several areas. The preservation of genetic diversity within a species is a prerequisite for survival under changing environmental conditions.

Physiological and anatomical differentiation of two sympatric weed populations.

In the vineyards of Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany), two different types of Shepherd's Purse () coexist: (1) the common type called 'wild type', and (2) the decandric type called or ' with four stamens in place of the four petals. In this study, we compare the anatomical and physiological characters of rosette leaves of the respective types. Progeny of individual plants was cultivated in growth chambers under low- and high-light conditions.

Floral visitation and reproductive traits of Stamenoid petals, a naturally occurring floral homeotic variant of Capsella bursa-pastoris (Brassicaceae).

Homeotic changes played a considerable role during the evolution of flowers, but how floral homeotic mutants initially survive in nature has remained enigmatic. To better understand the evolutionary potential of floral homeotic mutants, we established as a model system Stamenoid petals (Spe), a natural variant of Capsella bursa-pastoris (Brassicaceae). In the flowers of Spe plants, petals are transformed into stamens, whereas all other floral organs are unaffected.

Genetic differentiation and reproductive isolation of a naturally occurring floral homeotic mutant within a wild-type population of Capsella bursa-pastoris (Brassicaceae).

Apart from the common floral architecture in Brassicaceae, variation in flower morphology occurs in several genera within the family and is considered to affect speciation processes. We analysed genetic differentiation and flowering time variation of two floral variants of Capsella bursa-pastoris, the Spe variant and the wild-type, which occur sympatrically in a vineyard in southwest Germany. The Spe variant is characterized by an additional whorl of stamens instead of petals and was formerly classified as an independent taxon 'Capsella apetala' Opiz.

Transcriptional regulation of NADP-dependent malate dehydrogenase: comparative genetics and identification of DNA-binding proteins.

The transcriptional regulation of NADP-malate dehydrogenase (NADP-MDH) was analyzed in Arabidopsis ecotypes and other Brassicaceae. The amount of transcript increased twofold after transfer into low temperature (12 degrees C) or high light (750 microE) in all species. Analysis of the genomic DNA reveals that the NADP-MDH gene (At5g58330 in A.

Catching a 'hopeful monster': shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) as a model system to study the evolution of flower development.

Capsella is a small genus within the mustard family (Brassicaceae). Its three species, however, show many evolutionary trends also observed in other Brassicaceae (including Arabidopsis) and far beyond, including transitions from a diploid, self-incompatible, obligatory outcrossing species with comparatively large and attractive flowers but a restricted distribution to a polyploid, self-compatible, predominantly selfing, invasive species with floral reductions. All these evolutionary transitions may have contributed to the fact that Capsella bursa-pastoris (shepherd's purse) has become one of the most widely distributed flowering plants on our planet.