Abstract - Genetic diversity in two variants of Orobanche gracilis Sm. [var. gracilis and var. deludens (Beck) A. Pujadas] (Orobanchaceae) from different regions of Spain

Genetic diversity in two variants of Orobanche gracilis Sm. [var. gracilis and var. deludens (Beck) A. Pujadas] (Orobanchaceae) from different regions of Spain

Belén Román*
Área de Mejora y Biotecnología,
Instituto de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera (IFAPA-CICE)
Junta de Andalucía
CIFA “Alameda del Obispo”
Apdo. 3092
14080 Córdoba, Spain
Tel: 34 957 01 61 25
Fax: 34 957 01 60 43
E-mail: belen.roman.ext@juntadeandalucia.es

Rosabell Hernández
Departamento de Ciencias y Recursos Agrícolas y Forestales
Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos y de Montes (ETSIAM)
Campus de Rabanales, Ed. Celestino Mutis
Universidad de Córdoba
14071 Córdoba, Spain

Antonio José Pujadas-Salvá
Departamento de Ciencias y Recursos Agrícolas y Forestales
Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos y de Montes (ETSIAM)
Campus de Rabanales, Ed. Celestino Mutis
Universidad de Córdoba
14071 Córdoba, Spain

José Ignacio Cubero
Departamento de Genética
Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos y de Montes (ETSIAM)
Campus de Rabanales, Ed. Gregor Mendel
Universidad de Córdoba
14071 Córdoba, Spain

Diego Rubiales
Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Apdo. 4084, 14080 Córdoba, Spain

Zlatko Satovic
Department of Seed Science and Technology
Faculty of Agriculture
University of Zagreb
Svetosimunska 25
10000 Zagreb, Croatia

*Corresponding author

Financial support: The work has been carried out at CIFA "Alameda del Obispo" (IFAFA-Área de Mejora y Biotecnología) and was supported by the INIA RTA04-067 project.

Keywords: AMOVA, molecular markers, Orobanche gracilis, parasitic plants, population genetics.

The pattern of genetic variation among populations of two Orobanche gracilis Sm. taxa (var. gracilis and var. deludens (Beck) A. Pujadas) from Northern and Southern Spain growing on different hosts was analysed using RAPD markers. The diversity analysis within populations revealed a higher level of diversity in the populations from the North when compared to the Southern ones. The results of principal co-ordinate analysis (PCoA) based on Dice distances among samples clearly established the separation of samples according to the taxonomical variety and the geographical origin of each population. The Southern populations of both var. gracilis and var. deludens were more differentiated among them than those of var. gracilis from the North. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that the lowest level of population differentiation was found in O. gracilis var. gracilis from the North, whereas in the case of O. gracilis var. deludens from the South most of the genetic diversity was attributable to differences among populations. Possible explanations for the distribution of variation in these populations are discussed.