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Abstract
This study is a comparative analysis of architectural structure and internal genetic variability of populations of two common moss taxa: Polytrichum formosum and Polytrichum commune var. perigoniale. The genetic diversity within populations of the two taxa was evaluated by RAPD analysis using 11 different primers. Among five populations analyzed for each taxon, nine genotypes of P. formosum and 13 genotypes of P. c. var. perigoniale were detected. Each population was constituted of several genotypes (averages of 4 and 4.6 for P. formosum and P. c. var. perigoniale, respectively). The diameter of radially arranged leaves appeared to play an important role in the regulation of growth in Polytrichum populations. For both taxa, results showed a specific and sexual dimorphism for size in this feature. The present study did not allow any assessment of the correspondence between the architecture and genetic structure of populations. Stem-density profiles for different stem cohorts among populations showed a predominant cohort, with a single central distribution of a first year cohort for both taxa. Populations extended their surfaces by the overlaying of successive stem cohorts. In terms of stem-density profile, the genotypes were structurally indistinguishable within the population.