Introduction: Despite the wealth of studies dealing with the invasions of alien plants, invasions of alien genotypes of native species (cryptic invasions) have been vastly neglected. The impact of cryptic invasions on the biodiversity of plant communities can, however, be significant. Inland saline habitats and halophytes (i.e., salt-tolerant plant species) are especially threatened by this phenomenon as they inhabit fragmented remnants of largely destroyed habitats, but at the same time some of these halophytic species are rapidly spreading along salt-treated roads. To study potential cryptic invasion of halophytes, the patterns of genome size and ploidy variation in the complex (Poaceae), the most rapidly spreading roadside halophyte in Central Europe, were investigated.

Methods: DNA flow cytometry with confirmatory chromosome counts were employed to assess ploidy levels of 1414 individuals from 133 populations of the complex. In addition, climatic niche modelling was used to predict the distributions of selected cytotypes.

Results: Eight groups differing in ploidy level and/or genome size were discovered, one diploid (2; 2 = 14), two tetraploid (4A, 4B; 2 = 28), one pentaploid (5; 2 = 35), three hexaploid (6A, 6B, 6C; 2 = 42), and one heptaploid (7; 2 = 49). The hexaploids (mostly the 6C cytotype) were widespread through the study area, spreading intensively in both anthropogenic and natural habitats and probably hybridizing with the natural habitat dwelling tetraploids. In contrast, the non-hexaploid cytotypes rarely spread and were predominantly confined to natural habitats.

Discussion: The extensive spread of the hexaploid cytotypes along roadsides has most likely facilitated their incursion into natural habitats. The colonization of new natural habitats by the hexaploids may pose a threat to the indigenous populations by compromising their genetic integrity and/or by outcompeting them.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10620967PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1249292DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

natural habitats
12
cryptic invasion
8
complex poaceae
8
central europe
8
invasions alien
8
cryptic invasions
8
rapidly spreading
8
genome size
8
habitats
5
natural
5

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!