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Spatial genotypical diversity of Sesleria albicans (Poaceae) in a dry grassland community

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Abstract

Spatial genotypical diversity of Sesleria albicans Kit. ex Schultes was studied in a dry grassland community by isozyme analysis. The aim was to identify the genetical individuals within the studied population and to assess the species’ clonal growth parameters. Vegetative mobility and branching intensity were measured in field for the sake of the correct interpretation of the results. Five isozyme systems were analyzed and interpreted (MDH, MNR, 6-PGDH, SkDH, LAP). Altogether, 98 distinct isozyme profiles were identified within an area of 2 m2. Average genotype identity rapidly decreased with distance. Several very remote ramets (more than 1 m) belonging to the same genet were identified. The longest distance between ramets of the same genotype was 153 cm. With average annual rhizome increment of 13.59 mm assessed for the studied population the age of genet with the most remote ramets exceeded 56 years by a bi-directional growth and 112 years by a growth in single direction. Number of daughter tillers produced by a tiller per year was 0.67 (branching intensity, median) and the median of tiller life span was 2.5 years. The high genotypical diversity of S. albicans in the studied population could be a result of both, regular and continuous seed production with subsequent seedling recruitment and long life span of genets.

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Abbreviations

MDH:

malate dehydrogenase

MNR:

menadione reductase

6-PGDH:

6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase

SkDH:

shikimate dehydrogenase

LAP:

leucine aminopeptidase

ADH:

alcohol dehydrogenase

PVP:

polyvinylpyrrolidon

DTT:

dithiothreitol

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 14, SK-84523, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Monika Janišová

  2. Department of Phytology, Faculty of Forestry, Technical University of Zvolen, Masarykova 24, SK-96053, Zvolen, Slovakia

    Dušan Gömöry

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  1. Monika Janišová
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  2. Dušan Gömöry
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Correspondence to Monika Janišová.

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Janišová, M., Gömöry, D. Spatial genotypical diversity of Sesleria albicans (Poaceae) in a dry grassland community. Biologia 62, 670–674 (2007). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-007-0129-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-007-0129-x

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