| Abstract Detail
Molecular Ecology and Evolution Benoit, Lori K. [1], Les, Donald H. [2]. Assessment of Genetic Diversity in Hydrilla verticillata (L. f.) Royle (Hydrocharitaceae) Populations in the United States. Hydrilla verticillata (L. f.) Royle (Hydrocharitaceae), the only species of the monotypic genus Hydrilla, is a widely distributed, invasive aquatic weed. As the range of Hydrilla verticillata (commonly ‘hydrilla’) expands in the United States (including the appearance of herbicide-resistant populations), impacts to aquatic biodiversity and the economy continue to mount. Despite hydrilla’s notoriety as a noxious weed, there is little information regarding the origin of North American plants, vectors of spread, and the level of genetic diversity that occurs within and between introduced populations. We have commenced a research project to evaluate the genetic composition of hydrilla populations from the United States to:1) ascertain the pattern of introduction and spread of populations in the U.S., 2) infer possible vectors of spread, and 3) evaluate genetic potential for herbicide resistance.
We sampled hydrilla from a number of U.S. East Coast populations. Amplification and sequencing of internal spacer regions, ITS-1 and ITS-2, and the 5.8S region of nuclear ribosomal DNA, showed seven nucleotide differences that divide the samples into two groups, corresponding to the known East Coast distribution of monoecious and dioecious hydrilla ‘types’. However, insufficient variation is present in the ITS sequences to address research questions on patterns of spread and levels of genetic diversity among populations. Therefore, we are using microsatellite markers to continue these investigations. Additional hydrilla samples from U.S. and international populations will be collected. An outline of this research and progress to date will be presented.
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1 - University of Connecticut, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, 75 North Eagleville Road, Unit 3043, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
2 - University of Connecticut, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, 75 North Eagleville Road, U-3043, Storrs, Connecticut, 062693043, USA
Keywords:
ITS
Hydrilla verticillata
invasive
aquatic
Genetic diversity
microsatellites.
Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton
Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: P74005
Abstract ID:1759 |
