Comparison of genetic structure of Lithuanian Impatiens parviflora populations according to several multilocus dominant DNA markers

Abstract

Nowadays invasive annual herb Impatiens parviflora, which can easily adapt to different habitats and outcompete native plant species, spreads rapidly in Lithuanian parks and forest edges. The aim of our study was to investigate genetic diversity of I. parviflora growing in Lithuania according to several multilocus dominant DNA markers. Twenty one populations were chosen from different regions of Lithuania on purpose to cover all the territory of the country. Up to 16 plants were sampled per population, in total more than 300 individuals. Four inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR), eight randomply amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers and eight amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) marker pairs were used in the research. Agarose gel and capillary (ABI 3130 genetic analyzer) electrophoreses were used for fractionation of DNA fragments. Populations of I. parviflora from Central Lithuania had the highest and North-West Lithuania populations showed the lowest polymorphism according to all three types of dominant DNA makers. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that highest genetic variably within populations was estimated using AFLP (88%) makers, using ISSR (23%) and RAPD (21%) makers this value was much lower. Significant correlations between genetic and geographic distances of I. parviflora populations were found for AFLP and RAPD markers, but no significance between these parameters were found for ISSR makers. Comparing Bayesian clustering data of AFLP, ISSR and RAPD markers, high numbers of clusters were obtained (respectively 17, 11, 13). These results suggest that I. parviflora might be introduced to Lithuania multiple times from neighbouring countries.