Genetic variability and structure of populations of Schizachyrium (Poaceae, Andropogoneae) from the Corrientes Province (Argentina) Variabilidady estructura genética de poblaciones de Schizachyrium(Poaceae, Andropogoneae) de la provincia de Corrientes (Argentina)

ALMIRÓN, NOELIA E.A.; MORENO, ERCILIA M.S.; PEICHOTO, MYRIAM C.; SOLÍS NEFFA, VIVIANA G.

Bonplandia

Instituto de Botanica del Nordeste

Año: 2021 vol. 30 p. 1 - 7

0524-0476

Aiming to assess the usefulness of population genetic studies in the identification of Schizachyrium species and the role of natural hybridization in the evolution of these species, the genetic variability and structure of S. bimucronatum, S. sanguineum and S. tenerum were analyzed. The identification of unique RAPD bands and cpDNA haplotypes, together with PCoA and AMOVA results, showed that these species differ genetically from each other. The consistency of these results with previously defined morphological groups suggests that population genetic analyses combining nuclear and chloroplast markers would contribute unambiguously to the identification of Schizachyrium species. Furthermore, the finding of some individuals with a proportion of their genomes assignable to those of other populations or species suggests the occurrence of hybridization followed by introgression or polyploidization events. Finally, the patterns of genetic structuring observed may be related to the characteristics of the reproductive systems of the species studied, while the identification of independent evolutionary units in these species would be of interest for the development of conservation strategies for the species and the communities they belong to.