Physiological and fitness differences between cytotypes vary with stress in a grassland perennial herb.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Understanding the consequences of polyploidization is a major step towards assessing the importance of this mode of speciation. Most previous studies comparing different cytotypes, however, did so only within a single environment and considered only one group of traits. To take a step further, we need to explore multiple environments and a wide range of traits. The aim of this study was to assess response of diploid and autotetraploid individuals of Knautia arvensis (Dipsacaceae) to two stress conditions, shade or drought.

Methods

We studied eleven photosynthetic, morphological and fitness parameters of the plants over three years in a common garden under ambient conditions and two types of stress.

Key results

The results indicate strong difference

SUBMITTER: Pavlikova Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5708818 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature