Ahd. Brown et Ag. Young, Genetic diversity in tetraploid populations of the endangered daisy Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides and implications for its conservation, HEREDITY, 85(2), 2000, pp. 122-129
Polyploidy is an important variable in assessing the genetics of endangered
plant species. Species consisting of populations with different chromosome
numbers pose questions as to the mode of inheritance, relative variability
status, population divergence and gene flow. The self-incompatible species
Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides (Asteraceae) in south-eastern Australia is a g
ood example. The remnant populations in the northern sector of the species
range are diploid, whereas southern ones are either diploid or tetraploid.
Allozyme analysis of the tetraploid populations showed tetrasomic inheritan
ce confirming an autopolyploid genetic system, a modest increase in their a
llelic richness over diploid populations in the same region and a lack of g
enetic divergence. Conservation and replenishment strategies should take ac
count of these genetic features of mixed ploidy.