Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The utility of genome size in plant identification: a case study on Sesleria (Poaceae) from Croatia and Slovenia

  • Original article
  • Published:
Plant Systematics and Evolution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Members of the genus Sesleria are important vegetation elements and are regarded as diagnostic or constant species in many plant communities. However, their identification is often problematic due to their similar morphology and phenotypic plasticity. Although the genus has been studied by many specialists, numerous taxonomic problems remain unresolved. A controversial issue is the alleged presence of S. sadleriana and its hybrid with S. kalnikensis in Slovenia and NW Croatia. To resolve the situation, we used flow cytometry and determined the relative genome size in a large set of Sesleria samples, because this marker proved to be an effective tool in species identification in our previous Sesleria study. A total of 287 individuals from 24 Sesleria populations from NE Italy, Slovenia and NW Croatia were analysed in this study, and the results were compared with our previous dataset comprising 717 samples (representing 57 populations) of Sesleria species collected in other parts of Central Europe (Austria, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania). We have revealed that none of the studied populations from Slovenia or Croatia could be assigned to S. sadleriana or the hybrid S. kalnikensis × S. sadleriana. Of the 24 populations, 5 were identified as octoploid S. juncifolia, 3 as octoploid S. kalnikensis s.s., 11 as octoploid S. kalnikensis s.l., and 5 as an unknown tetraploid populations. The identity of S. kalnikensis s.l. and tetraploid populations requires further studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Avdulov NP (1928) Sistematiceskaja kariologija semejstva Gramineae. Dnevn Vsesoyuzn Sezda Bot 1928:65–67 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Avdulov NP (1931) Kario-sistematiceskoje issledowanje semejstva zlakov. Trudi Prikl Bot Genet Selekts Suppl 44:1–428 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartha D, Király G, Schmidt D, Tiborcz V, Barina Z, Csiky J, Jakab G, Lesku B, Schmotzer A, Vidéki R, Vojtkó A, Zólyomi S (eds) (2015) Magyarország edényes növényfajainak elterjedési atlasza. Nyugat-magyarországi Egyetem Kiadó, Sopron

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett MD, Leitch IJ (2005) Nuclear DNA amounts in angiosperms: progress, problems and prospects. Ann Bot (Oxford) 95:45–90. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mci003

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Budzáková M, Šibík J (2015) Diversity, variability and habitat characteristics of the communities dominated by Sesleria species (Poaceae) in the Western Carpathians. Pl Biosyst 150:1249–1260. https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2015.1019589

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Budzáková M, Hodálová I, Mereďa P Jr, Somlyay L, Bisbing SM, Šibík J (2014) Karyological, morphological and ecological differentiation of Sesleria caerulea and S. tatrae in the Western Carpathians and adjacent regions. Preslia 86:245–277

    Google Scholar 

  • Conert HJ (1992) Sesleria Scop. In: Hegi G (ed) Illustrierte Flora von Mitteleuropa, 1(3). Parey, Berlin, pp 473–486

    Google Scholar 

  • Deyl M (1946) Study of the genus Sesleria. Opera Bot Čech 3:1–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Deyl M (1978) Flora europaea. Notulae systematicae ad Floram Europaeam spectantes. No 20. Gramineae. (289) Sesleria Scop. Bot J Linn Soc 76:364

    Google Scholar 

  • Deyl M (1980) Sesleria Scop. In: Tutin TG, Heywood VH, Burges NA, Moore DM, Valentine DH, Walters SM, Webb DA (eds) Flora Europaea 5 (Alismataceae to Orchidaceae). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 173–177

    Google Scholar 

  • Di Pietro R (2007) Taxonomic features of Sesleria calabrica (Poaceae), a neglected species from southern Italy. Folia Geobot 42:289–313. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02806468

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Pietro R (2017) Sesleria Scop.—Sesleria. In: Pignatti S (ed) Flora d’Italia seconda, 1st edn. Edagricole, Bologna, pp 597–603

    Google Scholar 

  • Di Pietro R, D’Amato G, Trombetta B (2008) Karyology and distribution of Sesleria tenuifolia complex in the Italian Peninsula. Nordic J Bot 23:615–623. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1756-1051.2003.tb00442.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Pietro R, Kuzmanović N, Iamonico D, Pignotti L, Barina Z, Lakušić D, Alegro A (2013) Typification of names in the Sesleria juncifolia species complex (Poaceae). Phytotaxa 152:18–32. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.152.1.2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doležel J, Greilhuber J, Suda J (2007) Estimation of nuclear DNA content in plants using flow cytometry. Nat Prot 2:2233–2244. https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2007.310

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Domac R (2002) Flora Hrvatske. Školska knjiga, Zagreb

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischer MA, Oswald K, Adler W (2008) Exkursionsflora für Österreich, Liechtenstein und Südtirol, 3rd edn. Biologiezentrum der Oberösterreichischen Landesmuseen, Linz

    Google Scholar 

  • Greilhuber J, Doležel J, Lysák MA, Bennett MD (2005) The origin, evolution and proposed stabilization of the terms ‘Genome size’ and ‘C-value’ to describe nuclear DNA contents. Ann Bot (Oxford) 95:255–260. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mci019

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hodálová I, Mártonfiová L, Onete M, Kučera J, Mereďa P Jr (2018) [Reports]. In: Marhold K, Kučera J (eds) IAPT chromosome data 28. Taxon 67:1237, E9–E11. https://doi.org/10.12705/676.39

  • Ilijanić L, Topić J (2000) Poaceae. In: Nikolić T (ed) Flora Croatica. Index Florae Croaticae 3. Natura Croatica 9 (Suppl. 1). Hrvatski prirodoslovni muzej, Zagreb, pp 130–149

  • Janka V (1884) Plantae novae. Természetrajzi Füzetek 8:28–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Jávorka S (1911) Egy fel nem ismert Sesleriánkról. Über eine verkannte Sesleria. Magyar Bot Lapok 10:311–314

    Google Scholar 

  • Jogan N (1999) Poaceae (Gramineae)—Trave. In: Martinčič A, Wraber T, Jogan N, Ravnik V, Podobnik A, Turk B, Vreš B, Mala Flora Slovenije: ključ za določanje praprotnic in semenk, 3rd edn.Tehniška Založba Slovenije, Ljublijana, pp 711–813

  • Jogan N (2001a) Nomenclatural notes to the 3rd edition of Mala flora Slovenije (1999). Hladnikia 11:25–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Jogan N (ed) (2001b) Gradivo za Atlas flore Slovenije. Materials for the Atlas Flora of Slovenia. Center za kartografijo favne in flore, Miklavž na Dravskem polju

  • Jogan N (2007) Poaceae (Gramineae) – Trave. In: Martinčič A, Wraber T, Jogan N, Podobnik A, Turk B, Vreš B, Ravnik V, Frajman B, Strgulc Krajšek S, Trčak B, Bačič T, Fischer MA, Eler K, Surina B, Mala flora Slovenije, 4th edn. Tehniška založba Slovenije, Ljubljana, pp 826–932

  • Jogan N (2014) Sesleria Scop.—Blaugras, Elfengras. In: Rottensteiner WK (ed) Exkursionsflora für Istrien. Naturwissenschaftlicher Verein fur Karnten, Gebunden, pp 744–745

    Google Scholar 

  • Kliment J (1999) Komentovaný prehľad vyšších rastlín flóry Slovenska, uvádzaných v literatúre ako endemické taxóny 1, 2. Bull Slov Bot Spoločnost 21(Suppl 1):1–434

    Google Scholar 

  • Kováts D (1984) Poaceae type specimens of Herbarium Carpato-Pannonicum in Budapest II. (Calamagrostis—Sesleria). Stud Bot Hung 17:61–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Kožuharov S, Petrova A (1991) Chromosome numbers of Bulgarian angiosperms. Fitologija 39:72–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuzmanović NV, Schönswetter P (2016) No confirmation for previously suggested presence of diploid cytotypes of Sesleria (Poaceae) on the Balkan Peninsula. Biologia 71:639–641. https://doi.org/10.1515/biolog-2016-0087

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuzmanović N, Comanescu P, Frajman B, Lazarević M, Paun O, Schönswetter P, Lakušić D (2013) Genetic, cytological and morphological differentiation within the Balkan-Carpathian Sesleria rigida sensu Fl. Eur. (Poaceae): a taxonomically intricate tetraploid-octoploid complex. Taxon 62:458–472. https://doi.org/10.12705/623.13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuzmanović N, Lakušić D, Frajman B, Alegro A, Schönswetter P (2017) Phylogenetic relationships in Seslerieae (Poaceae) including resurrection of Psilathera and Sesleriella, two monotypic genera endemic to the Alps. Taxon 66:1349–1370. https://doi.org/10.12705/666.5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lazarević M, Kuzmanović N, Lakušić D, Alegro A, Schönswetter P, Frajman B (2015) Patterns of cytotype distribution and genome size variation in the genus Sesleria Scop. (Poaceae). Bot J Linn Soc 179:126–143. https://doi.org/10.1111/boj.12306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leitch IJ, Leitch AR (2013) Genome size diversity and evolution in land plants. In: Plant genome diversity, vol. 2. Springer, Vienna, pp 307–322

  • Lövkvist B, Hultgård UM (1999) Chromosome numbers in south Swedish vascular plants. Opera Bot 137:1–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Lysák MA (1996) Taxonomie a chorologie českých a slovenských druhů rodu Sesleria. MSc Thesis, Palacký University, Olomouc

  • Lysák MA, Doležel J (1998) Estimation of nuclear DNA content in Sesleria (Poaceae). Caryologia 51:123–132. https://doi.org/10.1080/00087114.1998.10589127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lysák MA, Číhalíková J, Doležel J (1997) Morphometric and karyological analysis of a population of Sesleria sadleriana Janka in the Biele Karpaty Mountains (Slovakia). Folia Geobot Phytotax 32:47–55. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02803884

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mandák B, Trávníček P, Paštová L, Kořínková D (2012) Is hybridization involved in the evolution of the Chenopodium album aggregate? An analysis based on chromosome counts and genome size estimation. Flora 207:530–540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.flora.2012.03.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martinčič A (1969) Poaceae (Gramineae)—Trave. In: Martinčič A, Sušnik F (eds) Mala Flora Slovenije. Cankarjeva založba, Ljublijana, pp 448–485

    Google Scholar 

  • Melichárková A, Španiel S, Marhold K, Hurdu B-I, Drescher A, Zozomová-Lihová J (2019) Diversification and independent polyploid origins in the disjunct species Alyssum repens from the Southeastern Alps and the Carpathians. Amer J Bot 106:1499–1518. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.1370

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mereďa P Jr, Majerová M, Somlyay L, Pekárik L, Hodálová I (2019) Genome size variation in the Western Carpathian Sesleria (Poaceae) species. Pl Syst Evol 305:845–864. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-019-01622-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Petrova A (2000) Karyological study of some species of Sesleria (Poaceae) growing in Bulgaria. Bot Chron (Patras) 13:133–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Pignatti S (1982) Flora d’Italia 3. Edagricole, Bologna

    Google Scholar 

  • Quintanar A, Castroviejo S, Catalán P (2007) Phylogeny of tribe Aveneae (Pooideae, Poaceae) inferred from plastid trnT-F and nuclear ITS sequences. Amer J Bot 94:1554–1569. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.94.9.1554

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rychlewski J (1955) Studia cytologiczno-systematyczne nad Sesleria tatrae Deyl. Acta Soc Bot Polon 24:163–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rychlewski J (1958) Badania cytologiczno-embriologiczne nad Sesleria tatrae Deyl. Acta Biol Cracov, Ser Bot 1:103–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider J, Döring E, Hilu KW, Röser M (2009) Phylogenetic structure of the grass subfamily Pooideae based on comparison of plastid matK gene-3’trnK exon and nuclear ITS sequences. Taxon 58:405–424. https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.582008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skokanová K, Šingliarová B, Kochjarová J, Paule J (2019) Nuclear ITS and AFLPs provide surprising implications for the taxonomy of Tephroseris longifolia agg. and the endemic status of T. longifolia subsp. moravica. Pl Syst Evol 305:865–884. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-019-01624-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Šlenker M, Zozomová-Lihová J, Mandáková T, Kudoh H, Zhao Y, Soejima A, Yahara T, Skokanová K, Španiel S, Marhold K (2018) Morphology and genome size of the widespread weed Cardamine occulta: how it differs from cleistogamic C. kokaiensis and other closely related taxa in Europe and Asia. Bot J Linn Soc 187:456–482. https://doi.org/10.1093/botlinnean/boy030

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soó R (1973) A magyar flóra és vegetáció rendszertani-növényföldrajzi kézikönyve. 5. Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest

  • Strgar V (1980) Sesleria na subpanonskem vegetacijskem območju severnovzhodne Slovenije in severozahodne Hrvaške. Biol Vestn 28:99–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Strgar V (1981) Die Sippenstruktur von Sesleria auf der Balkanhalbinsel. Bot Jahrb Syst 102:215–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Strgar V (1984) Sesleria Scop. In: Martinčič A, Sušnik F (eds) Mala flora Slovenije: praprotnice in semenke, 2nd edn. Državna založba Slovenije, Ljubljana, pp 715–718

    Google Scholar 

  • Suda J, Krahulcová A, Trávníček P, Krahulec F (2006) Ploidy level versus DNA ploidy level: an appeal for consistent terminology. Taxon 55:447–450. https://doi.org/10.2307/25065591

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suda J, Trávníček B, Mandák B, Berchová-Bímová K (2010) Genome size as a marker for identifying the invasive alien taxa in Fallopia section Reynoutria. Preslia 82:97–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Suffren P (1802) Principes de Botanique, suivis d´un Catalogue des plantes du Friaul et de la Carnia. Antonine Rosa, Venise

    Google Scholar 

  • Tlili A, Gouja H, Vallès J, Garnatje T, Buhagiar J, Neffati M (2020) Chromosome number and genome size in Atriplex mollis from southern Tunisia and Atriplex lanfrancoi from Malta (Amaranthaceae). Pl Syst Evol 306:11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-020-01643-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trávníček P, Ponert J, Urfus T, Jersáková J, Vrána J, Hřibová E, Doležel J, Suda J (2015) Challenges of flow-cytometric estimation of nuclear genome size in orchids, a plant group with both whole-genome and progressively partial endoreplication. Cytom A 87:958–966. https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.a.22681

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trinajstić I (1995) Samoborsko gorje, a refuge of various floral elements between the Alps and the Dinaric mountains. Acta Bot Croat 54:47–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Trinajstić I, Regula-Bevilacqua L, Cerovečki Z (2006) Fitocenološko-sintaksonomske značajke vrste Sesleria sadleriana Janka u Horvatskoj. Agron Glas 1(2006):3–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Trombetta B, Granati A, D’Amato G, Sabina R, Martelli G, Di Pietro R (2005) Un approccio integrato (tassonomico, biosistematico e fitosociologico) allo studio del genere Sesleria Scop. nell’Appennino. Inform Bot Ital 37:58–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Ujhelyi J (1959a) Révision des espèces du genre “Sesleria” en Italie. Webbia 14:597–614. https://doi.org/10.1080/00837792.1959.10669690

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ujhelyi J (1959b) Species Sesleriae generis novae. Feddes Repert 62:59–70. https://doi.org/10.1002/fedr.19590620108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ujhelyi J (1960) Weitere Zytotaxonomische Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Gattung Sesleria. Bot Közlem 3–4:278–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Ujhelyi J, Felföldy L (1948) Cyto-taxonomical studies of Sesleria sadleriana Janka and S. varia (Jacq.) Wettst. Arch Biol Hung 18:52–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Zángheri P (1976) Flora Italica 1. CEDAM, Padova

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmermann A, Kniely G, Melzer H, Maurer W, Höllriegl R (1989) Atlas gefährdeter Farn- und Blütenpflanzen der Steiermark. Amt der Steiermärkischen Landesregierung, Graz

    Google Scholar 

  • Zozomová-Lihová J, Melichárková A, Svitok M, Španiel S (2020) Pleistocene range disruption and postglacial expansion with secondary contacts explain the genetic and cytotype structure in the western Balkan endemic Alyssum austrodalmaticum (Brassicaceae). Pl Syst Evol 306:47. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-020-01677-5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dominik Roman Letz for help with plant collection, to Ladislav Pekárik and Marek Šlenker (all Bratislava) for help with the statistical analyses. We thank the curators of the LJU, ZA, and ZAHO herbaria for allowing us to study the herbarium specimens. This study was supported by the Grant Agency of Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic and Slovak Academy of Sciences VEGA (Grant No. 2/0131/16).

Funding

This study was funded by Vedecká Grantová Agentúra MŠVVaŠ SR a SAV (VEGA 2/0131/16) to Iva Hodálová.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre, Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84523, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

    Iva Hodálová, Katarína Skokanová, Monika Majerová & Pavol Mereďa Jr.

  2. Pavol Jozef Šafárik University, Botanical Garden, Mánesova 23, 04352, Košice, Slovak Republic

    Lenka Mártonfiová

  3. Department of Botany, Hungarian Natural History Museum, PO Box 137, 1431, Budapest, Hungary

    Lajos Somlyay

Authors
  1. Iva Hodálová
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lenka Mártonfiová
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Katarína Skokanová
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Monika Majerová
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Lajos Somlyay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Pavol Mereďa Jr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pavol Mereďa Jr..

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Handling Editor: Ivana Rešetnik.

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Contribution to “Plants of the Balkan Peninsula in Space and Time”.

Electronic supplementary material

Information on Electronic Supplementary Materials

Information on Electronic Supplementary Materials

Online Resource 1. Regions in Slovenia and Croatia from where S. sadleriana or its hybrids/intermediate types with/to other Sesleria taxa have been reported, and classification of Sesleria sect. Sesleria populations from these regions according to relevant publications.

Online Resource 2. Mitotic chromosomes of Sesleria species.

Online Resource 3. Histograms of fuorescence intensity in simultaneous analyses of DAPI-stained nuclei isolated from several Sesleria individuals.

Online Resource 4. 2C relative genome sizes (in arbitrary units; a.u.) of the Central European representatives of the genus Sesleria.

Online Resource 5. Mean predicted values and 95% confidence intervals from linear mixed models for relative genome size of selected Sesleria species/populations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hodálová, I., Mártonfiová, L., Skokanová, K. et al. The utility of genome size in plant identification: a case study on Sesleria (Poaceae) from Croatia and Slovenia. Plant Syst Evol 306, 87 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-020-01715-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-020-01715-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation