Patterns of genetic differentiation in two annual bromegrasses, Bromus lanceolatus and B-hordeaceus (Poaceae)

Infraspecific genetic differentiation was analysed in two tetraploid annual bromegrasses, Bromus lanceolatus (from N Africa) and B. hordeaceus (from N Africa and France). Genetic analysis of populations was based on allozyme polymorphisms at 17 loci. Different fixed heterozygous phenotypes were scored in both species, according to their allopolyploid origin. In N Africa, more variation occurred among populations of B. lanceolatus than of B. hordeaceus. The variation was not randomly distributed among populations of both species. In B. lanceolatus, differentiation was correlated with climatic variables rather than with geographic distance between populations. Higher correlation of genetic differentiation with geographic distance occurred in B. hordeaceus, particularly at large geographic scale, between French and N African populations. Within each region, the populations appeared weakly genetically differentiated, even when belonging to different subspecies.