6533b7d9fe1ef96bd126d66b

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Hybridization studies inSilene subgen.Petrocoptis (Caryophyllaceae)

subject

description

Silene subgenusPetrocoptis comprises sexual diploid taxa and it is restricted to calcareous cliffs in the Iberian peninsula. Artificial crosses involvingSilene pyrenaica (Bergeret)Mayol etRossello (≡Petrocoptis pyrenaica (Bergeret)Walp.),Silene laxipruinosa Mayol etRossello andS. montserratii subsp.crassifolia (Rouy)Mayol etRossello (≡P. crassifolia Rouy) were attempted to assess the extent of barriers developed within the subgenusPetrocoptis. Usually, intraspecific crosses involving allopatric populations were successful, suggesting that geographically isolated populations are not genetically isolated. Cross-compatibility was noted among the polymorphicS. pyrenaica, which developed fertile F1 hybrids. All other interspecific crosses failed due to cross- or seed-incompatibility. Crossing results agree with available evidence supporting the merging of segregates ofS. pyrenaica within a single taxon.