| Abstract Detail
Bryological and Lichenological Section/ABLS Hairgrove, Kenna [1], Chang, Eun Hyuk [1], Fuselier, Linda [1]. Population genetic structure of a clonal plant: How important is sex? POPULATIONS that incorporate sexual reproduction have higher genetic variability and thus, greater evolutionary potential. Clonal plants, such as bryophytes, reproduce both sexually and asexually, but single-sex populations that rely entirely on asexual reproduction for population persistence are common within this plant group. Through a field and laboratory study, we investigated the degree to which a common liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha, incorporates sexual progeny into its population. We hypothesized that the population would exhibit a clumped distribution with low genetic variation within patches of plants. Further, we expected that genetic variation among patches would depend on patch size and nearest neighbor distance. We measured distances between patches of M. polymorpha at a creek in northern Minnesota and systematically collected plants for genotyping. We isolated DNA from plants and used PCR with intersequence simple repeat (ISSR) primers to develop a genotyping system for individuals. Plants in this population were clumped in distribution with highly variable nearest neighbor distances. The ISSR system was successful for genotyping individual M. polymorpha, and it appears that only 2-3 primers will be sufficient for detecting population genetic variation. We are in the process of genotyping plants and expect to complete data acquisition this winter.
Log in to add this item to your schedule
1 - Minnesota State University Moorhead, Biosciences, 1104 7th Ave. S., Moorhead, Minnesota, 56563, USA
Keywords:
Asexual Reproduction
Marchantia polymorpha
ISSR
genetic variation.
Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: 48-13
Location: Auditorium/Bell Memorial Union
Date: Tuesday, August 1st, 2006
Time: 12:30 PM
Abstract ID:356 |
