Description
Molecular markers were used to investigate phylogenetic relationships among the 8 species of ryegrass (Lolium) and 11 species of fescue (Festuca). Nine sequences of non-coding chloroplastic or mitochondrial DNA were amplified through PCR, then digested by 20 restriction enzymes. Restriction sites data were used to draw an UPGMA tree. The main features are: 1) a clear-cut distinction between fine-leaved fescues (subg. Festuca) and broad-leaved fescues (subg. Schedonorus), which include the ryegrasses. 2) among the broad-leaved fescues, meadow fescue and tall fescue are very closely related, which may indicate that they share a common maternal ancestor, while gigant fescue is the most differentiated. 3) in the ryegrass group, the endemic L. canariense and perennial ryegrass seem to have diverged first from their common ancestor with meadow fescue, while all the annual ryegrasses, both outbreeders or inbreeders, have a recent origin.
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Relationships Among Some Lolium and Festuca Species
Molecular markers were used to investigate phylogenetic relationships among the 8 species of ryegrass (Lolium) and 11 species of fescue (Festuca). Nine sequences of non-coding chloroplastic or mitochondrial DNA were amplified through PCR, then digested by 20 restriction enzymes. Restriction sites data were used to draw an UPGMA tree. The main features are: 1) a clear-cut distinction between fine-leaved fescues (subg. Festuca) and broad-leaved fescues (subg. Schedonorus), which include the ryegrasses. 2) among the broad-leaved fescues, meadow fescue and tall fescue are very closely related, which may indicate that they share a common maternal ancestor, while gigant fescue is the most differentiated. 3) in the ryegrass group, the endemic L. canariense and perennial ryegrass seem to have diverged first from their common ancestor with meadow fescue, while all the annual ryegrasses, both outbreeders or inbreeders, have a recent origin.
