Cytotype distribution in Empetrum (Ericaceae) at various spatial scales in the Czech Republic

• Main Authors: Jan Suda, Radka Malcová, Daniel Abazid, Marek Banaš, František Procházka, Šída Milan Štech
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Crowberry
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.482.6631; http://marekbanas.com/soubory/soubor9.pdf

Ploidy levels in Empetrum (crowberry) from the Czech Republic were estimated by flow cytometry to examine cytotype distribution patterns at large (within the country), medium (within mountain ranges) and small (within particular localities) spatial scales. Diploid, triploid, and tetraploid individuals were found. Triploids are reported from Central Europe for 1 the first time; they occurred quite frequently in the Krkonoše Mts. Exclusively diploid plants were observed in three mountain ranges (the Krušné hory Mts., the Labské pískovce Mts., the Adršpašsko-teplické skály Mts.), exclusively tetraploids were observed in the Jeseníky Mts., and both cytotypes were observed in the Šumava Mts., the Jizerské hory Mts. and the Krkonoše Mts. Except for the latter mountain range, diploids and tetraploids were always found in different habitats. Spatial isolation is supposed to be the main barrier preventing cytotype mating. A mosaic-like sympatric occurrence of different cytotypes was demonstrated in the Krkonoše Mts., where a patchwork of peat bogs and rocky places exists. Eight of 11 localities studied there were inhabited by diploids and tetraploids (five localities), diploids and triploids (one locality) or all three ploidy levels (two localities). Diploid and triploid plants