Genetic structure in the paleoendemic and endangered Petagnaea gussonei (Spreng.) Rauschert (Saniculoideae, Apiaceae) and implications for its conservation

Our investigation aims to understand the genetic structure and evolutionary history of Petagnaea gussonei, an ancient and endangered species belonging to the Saniculoideae subfamily (Apiaceae). It is paleoendemic to Sicily, with a small number of populations in the Nebrodi Mountains. A total of seven chloroplast microsatellite repeat loci and 12 AFLP primer combinations were used to screen 115 individuals corresponding to 17 populations. The ratio of seed to pollen flow was also calculated using the modified Ennos equation. A relatively high level of genetic diversity was detected with AFLPs (e.g., 0.045 < H < 0.278), and a moderate variation was also found using cpSSRs (0 < Hk < 0.667). Tw…