Patterns of genetic diversity in natural populations of Paspalum agamic complexes

Paspalum has many multiploid species displaying a wide range of ploidy levels and reproductive systems including apomixis. However, not much is known about the genetic structure of natural populations of the apomictic species of Paspalum. The aim of this work was to evaluate the genetic diversity of several natural populations belonging to five species of Paspalum. A total of 13 populations were analyzed using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). The AFLP data revealed maximal genotypic diversity and significant levels of genetic diversity in diploid and mixed diploid-tetraploid populations of P. denticulatum and P. rufum, where all individuals represent different genotypes. This may be mainly due to the reproductive system of diploid members and the gene flow from diploids to polyploids. The pure populations of tetraploids consist of either multiple genotypes (P. nicorae) or of one dominant genotype with a few deviated genotypes (P. denticulatum and P. lividum). Here, the main source of variability may be the residual sexuality, which continues generating new genotypic combinations. The hexaploid populations of P. buckleyanum consist of a single AFLP genotype and each population represents a particular genotype suggesting that populations arose from independent polyploidization events. This study represents one of the first reports of genetic diversity in natural populations of several Paspalum agamic complexes. Apomixis in these five species may be acting as a successful method for the dispersion of better adapted genotypes.