Multiple introductions and gene flow in subtropical South American populations of the fireweed, Senecio madagascariensis(Asteraceae)

Abstract Non-indigenous plants exhibit different attributes that make them aggressive competitors with indigenous plants and serious threats to biodiversity.Senecio madagascariensis (fireweed, Asteraceae), a native from southern Africa, is a strong competitor in agricultural activities and has toxic...

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Main Authors: Geraldo Mäder, Luana Castro, Sandro Luis Bonatto, Loreta Brandão de Freitas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Genética 2016-03-01
Series:Genetics and Molecular Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1415-47572016000100135&lng=en&tlng=en
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author Geraldo Mäder
Luana Castro
Sandro Luis Bonatto
Loreta Brandão de Freitas
author_facet Geraldo Mäder
Luana Castro
Sandro Luis Bonatto
Loreta Brandão de Freitas
author_sort Geraldo Mäder
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Non-indigenous plants exhibit different attributes that make them aggressive competitors with indigenous plants and serious threats to biodiversity.Senecio madagascariensis (fireweed, Asteraceae), a native from southern Africa, is a strong competitor in agricultural activities and has toxic alkaloids that may result in high cattle mortality. In Brazil, this weed was collected for the first time in 1995 and has since spread quickly throughout the Pampas region. To better understand the invasion of the fireweed in South America, we used a genetic characterization with internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and microsatellite markers. Based on the ITS data, the southern Brazil populations of S. madagascariensis shared genetic homology with samples taken from the Hawaiian Islands and South Africa. Microsatellite analysis showed the genetic diversity split in two clusters, perhaps intimating the independent introduction of each species into South America. Although fireweed was introduced recently in southern Brazil, the considerable levels of genetic diversity, gene flow, and inbreeding may indicate success in the species establishment in this environment.
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spelling doaj.art-48450170efc44da4acc4946ea57179ce2022-12-22T00:27:30ZengSociedade Brasileira de GenéticaGenetics and Molecular Biology1678-46852016-03-0139113514410.1590/1678-4685-GMB-2015-0167S1415-47572016000100135Multiple introductions and gene flow in subtropical South American populations of the fireweed, Senecio madagascariensis(Asteraceae)Geraldo MäderLuana CastroSandro Luis BonattoLoreta Brandão de FreitasAbstract Non-indigenous plants exhibit different attributes that make them aggressive competitors with indigenous plants and serious threats to biodiversity.Senecio madagascariensis (fireweed, Asteraceae), a native from southern Africa, is a strong competitor in agricultural activities and has toxic alkaloids that may result in high cattle mortality. In Brazil, this weed was collected for the first time in 1995 and has since spread quickly throughout the Pampas region. To better understand the invasion of the fireweed in South America, we used a genetic characterization with internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and microsatellite markers. Based on the ITS data, the southern Brazil populations of S. madagascariensis shared genetic homology with samples taken from the Hawaiian Islands and South Africa. Microsatellite analysis showed the genetic diversity split in two clusters, perhaps intimating the independent introduction of each species into South America. Although fireweed was introduced recently in southern Brazil, the considerable levels of genetic diversity, gene flow, and inbreeding may indicate success in the species establishment in this environment.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1415-47572016000100135&lng=en&tlng=enMicrosatellitesITSPampasweedspread
spellingShingle Geraldo Mäder
Luana Castro
Sandro Luis Bonatto
Loreta Brandão de Freitas
Multiple introductions and gene flow in subtropical South American populations of the fireweed, Senecio madagascariensis(Asteraceae)
Genetics and Molecular Biology
Microsatellites
ITS
Pampas
weed
spread
title Multiple introductions and gene flow in subtropical South American populations of the fireweed, Senecio madagascariensis(Asteraceae)
title_full Multiple introductions and gene flow in subtropical South American populations of the fireweed, Senecio madagascariensis(Asteraceae)
title_fullStr Multiple introductions and gene flow in subtropical South American populations of the fireweed, Senecio madagascariensis(Asteraceae)
title_full_unstemmed Multiple introductions and gene flow in subtropical South American populations of the fireweed, Senecio madagascariensis(Asteraceae)
title_short Multiple introductions and gene flow in subtropical South American populations of the fireweed, Senecio madagascariensis(Asteraceae)
title_sort multiple introductions and gene flow in subtropical south american populations of the fireweed senecio madagascariensis asteraceae
topic Microsatellites
ITS
Pampas
weed
spread
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1415-47572016000100135&lng=en&tlng=en
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