There Is No Evidence of Geographical Patterning among Invasive Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis) Populations in the Northern Great Plains

There Is No Evidence of Geographical Patterning among Invasive Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis) Populations in the Northern Great Plains

The study of colonizing and of dominant grass species is essential for prairie conservation efforts. We sought to answer how naturalized Kentucky bluegrass in the northern Great Plains has become successful in the last 20 yr despite its long history in the northern Great Plains. We tested for eviden...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Weed science Vol. 64; no. 3; pp. 409 - 420
Main Authors: Dennhardt, Lauren A, DeKeyser, Edward S, Tennefos, Sarah A, Travers, Steven E
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge, UK The Weed Science Society of America 01-07-2016
Cambridge University Press
Weed Science Society of America
Subjects:
C3
clonal
Cultivars
Genetic diversity
Genetics
Genotype & phenotype
invasion
Land use
microsatellites
Natural populations
Poaceae
Population genetics
prairie
Prairies
Studies
Turfgrasses
WEED BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY
Canada
United States > US
Kentucky
C3
microsatellites
invasion
clonal
Poaceae
Kentucky bluegrass, Poa pratensis L
prairie
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Summary:The study of colonizing and of dominant grass species is essential for prairie conservation efforts. We sought to answer how naturalized Kentucky bluegrass in the northern Great Plains has become successful in the last 20 yr despite its long history in the northern Great Plains. We tested for evidence of geographical differentiation using flow cytometry and microsatellite markers to ascertain the population genetics of Kentucky bluegrass. Across all tested wild populations, high levels of genetic diversity were detected along with moderate levels of structure. Mantel tests of geographical patterns were not significant. Using clonal assignment, we found two major clones that made up the majority of the tested wild populations. When we compared the wild individuals to pedigree cultivars, we found virtually no genetic overlap across all tests, which did not support our hypothesis of developed cultivars contributing to high genetic diversity in natural populations. Furthermore, DNA content tests indicated a narrow range in ploidy in wild populations compared with lawn cultivars, further supporting a hypothesis of divergence between wild and pedigree cultivars. These results indicate the recent invasion of Kentucky bluegrass in the northern Great Plains is not because of adaptation or propagule pressure, but rather likely an environmental or land use shift. Nomenclature: Kentucky bluegrass, Poa pratensis L.
ISSN:0043-1745
1550-2759
DOI:10.1614/WS-D-15-00169.1