Characterization of sympatric Platanthera bifolia and Platanthera chlorantha (Orchidaceae) populations with intermediate plants
Platanthera bifolia and P. chlorantha are terrestrial and rewarding orchids with a wide Eurasian distribution. Although genetically closely related, they exhibit significant morphological, phenological and ecological differences that maintain reproductive isolation between the species. However, wher...
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PeerJ Inc.
2018-01-01
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| author | Fabiana Esposito Nicolas J. Vereecken Maddalena Gammella Rosita Rinaldi Pascal Laurent Daniel Tyteca |
| author_facet | Fabiana Esposito Nicolas J. Vereecken Maddalena Gammella Rosita Rinaldi Pascal Laurent Daniel Tyteca |
| author_sort | Fabiana Esposito |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Platanthera bifolia and P. chlorantha are terrestrial and rewarding orchids with a wide Eurasian distribution. Although genetically closely related, they exhibit significant morphological, phenological and ecological differences that maintain reproductive isolation between the species. However, where both species co-occur, individuals with intermediate phenotypic traits, often considered as hybrids, are frequently observed. Here, we combined neutral genetic markers (AFLPs), morphometrics and floral scent analysis (GC-MS) to investigate two mixed Platanthera populations where morphologically intermediate plants were found. Self-pollination experiments revealed a low level of autogamy and artificial crossings combined with assessments of fruit set and seed viability, showed compatibility between the two species. The results of the genetic analyses showed that morphologically intermediate plants had similar genetic patterns as the P. bifolia group. These results are corroborated also by floral scent analyses, which confirmed a strong similarity in floral scent composition between intermediate morphotypes and P. bifolia. Therefore, this study provided a much more detailed picture of the genetic structure of a sympatric zone between two closely allied species and supports the hypothesis that intermediate morphotypes in sympatry could reflect an adaptive evolution in response to local pollinator-mediated selection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:45:38Z |
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| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:45:38Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-bd77d3b6cd0549d0aa6a7bb2045667842023-12-03T10:37:53ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592018-01-016e425610.7717/peerj.4256Characterization of sympatric Platanthera bifolia and Platanthera chlorantha (Orchidaceae) populations with intermediate plantsFabiana Esposito0Nicolas J. Vereecken1Maddalena Gammella2Rosita Rinaldi3Pascal Laurent4Daniel Tyteca5Earth and Life Institute—Biodiversity Research Centre, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, BelgiumAgroecology Lab, Brussels Bioengineering School, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, BelgiumDepartment of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, ItalyUnit of General Chemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, BelgiumEarth and Life Institute—Biodiversity Research Centre, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, BelgiumPlatanthera bifolia and P. chlorantha are terrestrial and rewarding orchids with a wide Eurasian distribution. Although genetically closely related, they exhibit significant morphological, phenological and ecological differences that maintain reproductive isolation between the species. However, where both species co-occur, individuals with intermediate phenotypic traits, often considered as hybrids, are frequently observed. Here, we combined neutral genetic markers (AFLPs), morphometrics and floral scent analysis (GC-MS) to investigate two mixed Platanthera populations where morphologically intermediate plants were found. Self-pollination experiments revealed a low level of autogamy and artificial crossings combined with assessments of fruit set and seed viability, showed compatibility between the two species. The results of the genetic analyses showed that morphologically intermediate plants had similar genetic patterns as the P. bifolia group. These results are corroborated also by floral scent analyses, which confirmed a strong similarity in floral scent composition between intermediate morphotypes and P. bifolia. Therefore, this study provided a much more detailed picture of the genetic structure of a sympatric zone between two closely allied species and supports the hypothesis that intermediate morphotypes in sympatry could reflect an adaptive evolution in response to local pollinator-mediated selection.https://peerj.com/articles/4256.pdfPlatantheraOrchidaceaeHybridizationMoth pollinationFemale fitnessFloral scent |
| spellingShingle | Fabiana Esposito Nicolas J. Vereecken Maddalena Gammella Rosita Rinaldi Pascal Laurent Daniel Tyteca Characterization of sympatric Platanthera bifolia and Platanthera chlorantha (Orchidaceae) populations with intermediate plants PeerJ Platanthera Orchidaceae Hybridization Moth pollination Female fitness Floral scent |
| title | Characterization of sympatric Platanthera bifolia and Platanthera chlorantha (Orchidaceae) populations with intermediate plants |
| title_full | Characterization of sympatric Platanthera bifolia and Platanthera chlorantha (Orchidaceae) populations with intermediate plants |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of sympatric Platanthera bifolia and Platanthera chlorantha (Orchidaceae) populations with intermediate plants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of sympatric Platanthera bifolia and Platanthera chlorantha (Orchidaceae) populations with intermediate plants |
| title_short | Characterization of sympatric Platanthera bifolia and Platanthera chlorantha (Orchidaceae) populations with intermediate plants |
| title_sort | characterization of sympatric platanthera bifolia and platanthera chlorantha orchidaceae populations with intermediate plants |
| topic | Platanthera Orchidaceae Hybridization Moth pollination Female fitness Floral scent |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/4256.pdf |
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