Genetic structure of a hybrid zone between two violets, Viola rossii Hemsl. and V. bissetii Maxim.: dominance of F1 individuals in a narrow contact range

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc

E-ISSN: 1442-1984|30|3|237-243

ISSN: 0913-557x

Source: PLANT SPECIES BIOLOGY, Vol.30, Iss.3, 2015-07, pp. : 237-243

Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.

Previous Menu Next

Abstract

The genetic composition of a hybrid zone can provide insight into the evolution of diversification in plants. We carried out morphological and amplified fragment length polymorphism analyses to investigate the genetic composition of a hybrid zone between two violets, Viola bissetii Hemsl. and Viola rossii Maxim. Our aim was to clarify the formation and maintenance of hybrids between these Viola species. We found that most hybrid individuals (V. bissetii × V. rossii) were of the F1 generation, with a few of the F2 generation. We found no backcrosses. The scarcity of post‐F1 hybrids indicates that a species barrier is established between the parental species. The F1‐dominated hybrid zone occupied only a narrow, intermediate ecotone between the parental habitats, suggesting that selection by environmental factors against hybrids may help to maintain the current conditions in this hybrid zone.