Chloroplast trnL - trnF region variation in the genus Centaurium Hill as a molecular indicator of natural interspecific hybridization

Abstract

Species of the genus Centaurium are highly variable and clinal morphological variations caused by environmental conditions are very noticeable. Nevertheless, it is also well documented that species and subspecies of this genus hybridize readily in nature and it is considered that interspecific hybridization may be one of the leading causes of variability within the genus. Earlier studies indicate that the species C. erythraea Rafn and C. tenuiflorum (Hoffmanns. et Link) Fritsch in areas with a Mediterranean climate hybridize in nature. The taxonomic status of the hybridogenous taxon, which probably originated through the hybridization of the mentioned species, here called “C. ×tenuiflorum”, has not been resolved. Since it has been proven to be a useful genetic marker in giving evidence of hybridization among several species of the genus Centaurium, the chloroplast trnL - trnF region was used for the study of hybridization between these particular species. The results of variation in the trnL - trnF region indicated that the taxon “C. ×tenuiflorum” shared a chloroplast haplogroup with the species C. tenuiflorum, which implies that C. tenuiflorum might be the donor of chloroplast DNA. In subsequent research, it is necessary to combine the data obtained from the analysis of the trnL - trnF region with the data that would be obtained from the analysis of other regions of genomic and/or chloroplast DNA to resolve the status of this potentially hybridogenic taxon.