engleski

Phylogeography of Centaurea (Compositae) in the circum-Adriatic region

The present thesis focuses on the Centaurea group of the complex genus Centaurea in the circum-Adriatic region. Phylogeny of this group was analysed by using nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS sequences. Furthermore, AFLPs and chloroplast DNA sequences of regions rpl32-trnL and trnL5’exon-trnL3’exon-trnF, complemented with the estimation of nuclear DNA content were employed to investigate its phylogeography. Centaurea group was confirmed monophyletic, with several well supported groups which mainly corresponded well with identified taxa or groups of related taxa. Furthermore, recent radiation of the group was demonstrated. Italian populations were relic on their localities and Centaurea tommasinii from Italy had isolated position. Most populations along the eastern Adriatic coast were tetraploid. They were recent, and genetically diverse due to hybridisation and introgression. Populations of remote Adriatic islands showed closer relation with eastern Adriatic coast. Then, a connection of central Italy and southern Dalmatia during Pleistocene glaciations was demonstrated.

Acrolophus; Croatia; Italy; ITS; AFLP; plastid DNA; genome size

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