Vegetative vs. sexual reproduction varies widely in an invasive plant species across western North America

Authors: Gaskin, John; CORTAT, GHISLAINE - Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau International (CABI) - Switzerland; West, Natalie

Submitted to: Biological Invasions
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/23/2023
Publication Date: 3/20/2023
Citation: Gaskin, J.F., Cortat, G., West, N.M. 2023. Vegetative vs. sexual reproduction varies widely in an invasive plant species across western North America. Biological Invasions. 25:2219–2229. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-023-03035-1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-023-03035-1

Interpretive Summary: Convolvulus arvensis L. (Convolvulaceae), commonly known as field bindweed, is a creeping perennial plant found throughout the temperate regions of the world. We performed genetic analyses to determine how this plant is reproducing in the western North American invasion and if different genotypes or lineages exist in different parts of the invasion. We found two genetic clusters in the invasion that have a tendency to be predominant toward either the west or east of the invasion, and we found that reproduction by seed was slightly more common than new shoots arising from root tissue. Some populations appear to propagate entirely from root tissue thus newly proposed root-mining biological control agents might play an important role in limiting spread of this noxious weed.

Technical Abstract: Convolvulus arvensis L. (Convolvulaceae), commonly known as field bindweed, is a creeping perennial plant found throughout the temperate regions of the world. We performed genetic analysis on 634 plants from 64 populations across western North America. We found 399 distinct AFLP genotypes and none of these were shared across populations. The production of new shoots within populations was by both seed and rhizome, with reproduction by seed being slightly more common. A majority (54%) of the genetic variation was among populations, and we found two genetic clusters in the invasion that have a tendency to be predominant toward either the west or east of the invasion. Some populations appear to propagate entirely thru new ramets from rhizome, thus newly proposed root-mining biological control agents might play an important role in limiting spread of this noxious weed.