Genetic diversity of invasive alien species Lupinus polyphyllus populations in Lithuania.

Abstract

After appearance in Lithuania at the beginning of the 20th century, large-leaved lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl.) has widely spread throughout the country inhabiting not only forests but also the forest outskirts, roadsides, abandoned uncultivated fields, and its further penetration into natural habitats is observed. The goal of the research was to study the intraspecific diversity of L. polyphyllus populations in forests and abandoned fields. Genetic diversity of L. polyphyllus populations of forests and abandoned fields was tested using the RAPD method. Genotypes of each population were investigated using six primers. The UPGMA dendrogram revealed that all plants are genetically different, but individuals of each population group together. AMOVA showed significant genetic differentiation of the investigated L. polyphyllus populations (ΦPT. = 0,444, p < 0,001). Neither UPGMA cluster analysis, nor principal coordinate analysis revealed population grouping regarding the geographic distance between them. On the other hand, UPGMA cluster analysis revealed genetic peculiarities of L. polyphyllus populations that probably are associated with adaptation of invasive populations to local conditions. Although L. polyphyllus is becoming one of the most aggressive invasive plant species, according to our data, this is just the first study on the genetic diversity of the invasive populations of this species using molecular markers.