Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Biology Bulletin, cilt.52, sa.3, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Abstract: Pontederia crassipes Mart. (Pontederiaceae) is an invasive perennial aquatic weed seen in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Recently, this species was detected in the Asi (Orontes) River, Turkey. This study investigated potential sources of invading P. crassipes populations and their genetic diversity levels using ISSR markers. A total of twenty primers amplified 191 clear and distinct bands, of which 135 (PPB = 70.68%) were polymorphic across four populations. Genetic diversity was moderate both at the population (H = 0.19, I = 0.29, PPB = 62.70%) and species level (H = 0.225, I = 0.346, PPB = 70.68%). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that 78% of the total genetic variation was within populations, while 22% was attributed to variation among populations. Based on STRUCTURE analysis, two primary genetic clusters (K = 2, ΔK = 196.372) were identified, and both clusters showed genetic admixture. The moderate levels of genetic diversity observed both within and among introduced populations may be influenced by the species’ reproductive characteristics, including sexual and clonal propagation, and the accumulation of somatic mutations. The Idlib population (Syria) appears to be one of the potential sources of the Turkish populations. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the genetic structure and diversity of P. crassipes in Turkey, which can inform the development of effective management strategies for controlling this invasive species along the Asi River.