Publication Date
1989
Description
Dactylis glomerata L is a widely distributed autopolyploid complex, which includes mainly diploid and tetraploid cytotypes. In Galicia (Spain), morphologically indistinguishable and genetically very closely related diploid and tetraploid plants are sympatric, but they differ in habitat preference and life-history traits (Lumaret et al., 1987). Diploids are usually confined to low density forest understories of Quercus robur, while tetraploids are predominant in open areas with more dense herbaceous vegetation. Rothera and Davy (1986) found a similar habitat distribution in other polyploid complex (Deschampsia cespitosa) and suggested that diploids might be more sensitive to competition than tetraploids. Tetraploid Dactylis in Galicia flowers earlier in summer than diploids, perhaps a consequence of differential growth capacity during the cold season among plants with different genome size, as in D glomerata subsp. lusitanica (Eagles and Othman, 1978) and other angiosperms (Grime et al., 1985). In this study we test the hypothesis that tetraploid Galician Dactylis grows faster than diploids during winter and spring and that this differential growth confer a competitive advantage to tetraploids over diploids, expressed in vegetative and reproductive tiller production.
Citation
Maceira, N; Jacquard, P; and Lumaret, R, "Ploidy Level and Competitive Response in Dactylis glomerata L." (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 30.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session3/30
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Ploidy Level and Competitive Response in Dactylis glomerata L.
Dactylis glomerata L is a widely distributed autopolyploid complex, which includes mainly diploid and tetraploid cytotypes. In Galicia (Spain), morphologically indistinguishable and genetically very closely related diploid and tetraploid plants are sympatric, but they differ in habitat preference and life-history traits (Lumaret et al., 1987). Diploids are usually confined to low density forest understories of Quercus robur, while tetraploids are predominant in open areas with more dense herbaceous vegetation. Rothera and Davy (1986) found a similar habitat distribution in other polyploid complex (Deschampsia cespitosa) and suggested that diploids might be more sensitive to competition than tetraploids. Tetraploid Dactylis in Galicia flowers earlier in summer than diploids, perhaps a consequence of differential growth capacity during the cold season among plants with different genome size, as in D glomerata subsp. lusitanica (Eagles and Othman, 1978) and other angiosperms (Grime et al., 1985). In this study we test the hypothesis that tetraploid Galician Dactylis grows faster than diploids during winter and spring and that this differential growth confer a competitive advantage to tetraploids over diploids, expressed in vegetative and reproductive tiller production.
