Overview of amplified fragment length polymorphism markers used for investigation of genetic diversity of invasive plants

Abstract

The objective of our study was to analyse what amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) marker combinations are usually used for assessment of genetic diversity of invasive plants. Overview of thirty recently published papers concerning genetic structure of populations of alien species was performed with the purpose to find out what AFLP markers are the most frequently used to reveal molecular diversity of invasive plants such as Senecio inaequidens, Erigeron annuus, Spartina alterniflora and others. According to literature, for invasive plant analyses, seventy eight AFLP maker combinations were found. For one species populations the number of AFLP marker combinations tested ranged from 2 to 9. The most often examined AFLP marker pairs were as follows: EcoRI-AAC/MseI-CAC, EcoRI-ACG/MseI-CAA, EcoRI-ACG/MseI-CAC, EcoRI-ACC/MseI-CAT, EcoRI-AGC/MseI-CAT, EcoRI-ACT/MseI-CTA, each of these combinations had been applied at least in 4 independent surveys of invasive plant species. For evaluation of genetic diversity of Impatiens parviflora populations, we have screened thirty two AFLP marker combinations and chose eight of them (EcoRI-ACG/MseICAC, EcoRI-ACC/MseI-CAC, EcoRI-AGC/MseI-CAC, EcoRI-AGG/MseI-CAC, EcoRI-AAG/MseI-CAG, EcoRI-ACG/MseI-CAT, EcoRI-AAC/MseI-CTC, EcoRI-AAC/MseI-CTG). Our examinations revealed that these eight combinations are the most polymorphic and distinct ones for Impatiens parviflora studies of populations. Study was funded by Lithuania Science Council, Project No. LEK-07/2012, SIT-02/2015.