Genetic diversity of Lithuanian populations of Impatiens parviflora DC. at amplified fragment length polymorphism loci

Abstract

Impatiens parviflora is an invasive annual herbaceous plant species which was introduced to Europe from Central Asia. In Lithuania this species is attributed to the most rapidly spreading and highly invasive alien plants. The objective of the study was to evaluate molecular diversity of Lithuanian populations of I. parviflora according to amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Twenty one Lithuanian population of I. parviflora was chosen to cover all the territory of the country. Five I. parviflora individuals from each sampling site, in total 105 individuals, were chosen for AFLP analyses by capillary electrophoresis performed using ABI 3130 genetic analyser. Eight amplified fragment length polymorphism primer combinations were selected. Molecular studies revealed much higher genetic diversity within populations than among populations. Among studied populations the highest index of Nei’s gene diversity and percentage of polymorphic loci of I. parviflora were observed in the Central part of Lithuania and the same parameters were the lowest in the Western part of the country. The pairs of populations which were the most distinct according to the genetic distances were not the most geographically distant populations. AFLP makers based UPGMA dendrogram and principal coordinate analyses did not clearly differentiate I. parviflora populations into groups according to the geographic location. Bayesian analysis of AFLP data suggested that populations split into thirteen clusters. Based on the obtained results, spread of I. parvilfora was occurring as very complex process of multiple introductions. High genetic diversity in the Central and the Eastern parts of Lithuania suggest that introduction of I. parviflora might have happened firstly in these regions and later species has spread into the other parts of the country.