EURASIAN ORIGINS OF NORTH AMERICAN YELLOW STARTHISTLE (CENTAUREA SOLSTITIALIS L.) AS ESTIMATED BY MICROSATELLITE ANALYSIS

Authors: Anderson, Sharon; Luster, Douglas - Doug

Submitted to: Weed Science Society of America Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/7/2005
Publication Date: 2/7/2005
Citation: Anderson, S.J., Luster, D.G. 2005. Eurasian origins of north american yellow starthistle (centaurea solstitialis l.) as estimated by microsatellite analysis. Weed Science Society of America Meeting Abstracts, in Lawrence, KS

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Centaurea solstitialis is a widespread invasive plant species in the Western U.S. Biocontrol with pathogens and insects is a viable control strategy for rangeland, riparian areas and wild lands. Understanding genetic structure and origins of populations is important in developing controls for invasive organisms, such as noxious weeds, by improving our ability to predict locations to search for effective biocontrol agents. Microsatellite marker analysis was used to understand the variation within and among North American and Eurasian yellow starthistle populations, to characterize similarities among North American populations, and to estimate the origins of North American populations. Genetic similarity among populations observed using microsatellites was compared with similarities among populations for morphological characters, to determine the utility of morphology in field identification of Centaurea solstitialis populations. Microsatellite variation and morphology are two of the five markers being used to make consensus estimates of Eurasian origins of Western North American yellow starthistle populations, ultimately providing geographic coordinates for collection sites most likely to support effective biocontrol agents.