Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2008, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (4): 751-759.DOI: 10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2008.04.003

• Original article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

GENETIC AND CLONAL DIVERSITY OF GLOBBA RACEMOSA, A HERB WITH A MIXED REPRODUCTIVE MODE

ZHOU Hui-Ping1,3, CHEN Jin1,*(), ZHANG Shou-Zhou2   

  1. 1Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
    2Shenzhen Fairylake Botanical Garden, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518004, China
    3Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2006-09-20 Accepted:2007-08-11 Online:2008-09-20 Published:2008-07-30
  • Contact: CHEN Jin
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(30170160)

Abstract:

Aims Our objective was to understand the relative effects of reproductive mode, geographic distance and other potential factors on within- and among-population genetic and clonal diversity in Globba racemosa, a species that can reproduce sexually (via seeds) and asexually (via bulbils).

Methods We investigated reproduction variation in the seven natural G. racemosa populations in Yuannan Province, China by measuring the number of sexually produced fruits and asexually produced bulbils. Genetic data were collected using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. We evaluated the distribution of genetic variance and levels of population genetic diversity and assessed the relationship between genetic diversity and reproduction variation.

Important findings Globba racemosa has a relatively high genetic diversity at the species level (PPB=71.19%), and most genetic variances resided among populations (GST = 0.590 7). A high clonal diversity was found in this species (G/N = 0.88). No significant difference was detected between reproductive mode and genetic diversity or clonal diversity, which suggested that the mode of reproduction was not necessarily a determinant of population genetic diversity. There was a significant correlation between genetic and geographical distances (r = 0.68, p < 0.05), which indicated that genetic differentiation between populations was likely attributed to the effect of isolation by distance. Other factors (e.g., small sexual recruitment, somatic mutation and founder effect, etc.) could also play important roles in maintaining genetic and clonal diversity in G. racemosa.

Key words: genetic diversity, clonal diversity, Globba racemosa, ISSR, mantel test, sexual vs. clonal reproduction