engleski

Relationships and variation of the Anthyllis vulneraria (Fabaceae) species complex in Croatia and neighbouring countries

Microsatellite markers and comparative morphometry were used to distinguish the subtaxa within the Anthylis vulneraria species complex in Croatia and neighbouring countries. Analyses were carried out on 445 samples from 58 different populations. Neighbour-Joining method, based on Nei's distance, as well as the Neighbor-Net diagram, indicates that corolla colour is important distinguishing character. Existence of two dominant genetic units was found. Data showed that microsatellite markers do not discriminate the subtaxa within the A. vulneraria species complex. According to the morphometrical analysis, the most efficient characters to distinguish subtaxa of A. vulneraria were corolla colour, calyx colour and hairiness, flower length, calyx width, bract length, terminal leaflet length of rosette leaf, stem hairiness and uppermost internode length and stem height ratio. The subspecies alpestris was well distinguished from others by its smoke-grey calyx, while the subspecies carpatica, polyphylla and polyphylla 2 were not separated among themselves. In the area of investigation, the subspecies pulchella most probably forms intermediates to ssp. alpestris. The subspecies maura is well distinguished from other red flowered taxa by its longer corolla and the evenly distributed leaves along stem. In Croatia the subspecies praepropera forms three different geographical groups: (i) Istrian and North and Central Dalmatian group, (ii) South Dalmatian group, (iii) remote Adriatic islands group.

Anthylis vulneraria species complex; microsatellites; morphometry

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