Molecular characterization of Hedera (Araliaceae) from Atlantic Iberian Peninsula

Abstract

The Atlantic territories of western Europe and their surrounding areas are cohabited by two different species of ivies (Hedera), which are morphologically very similar, although they present different ploidy levels: Hedera helix (2x) and Hedera hibernica (4x). Concerning the northwest Atlantic Iberian territories and their surrounding areas, there are discrepancies regarding the identity of Hedera individuals at the specific level, since they have been identified as exclusively H. hibernica, but also as belonging to both species. In this context, we have aimed to determine whether the Hedera found in Atlantic Iberian Peninsula (Cantabrian Mountains territories and their surrounding areas) belong to H. helix, H. hibernica or to both. In order to achieve this, high-copy nuclear marker Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) and low-copy nuclear marker Granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSSI) were analyzed and compared to the results of Hedera samples from Central Europe and the Spanish Mediterranean Basin. Combined analyses of ITS-GBSSI datasets discriminate the species Hedera helix and Hedera hibernica, and our data suggest that H. hibernica is the only representative of Hedera in the Atlantic Iberian territories.

Keywords:

• Granule-bound starch synthase I
• Iberian Peninsula
• Internal Transcribed Spacer
• ivy
• nuclear markers

Acknowledgments

During the course of this project, Full Professor José Antonio Fernández Prieto died unexpectedly. All authors and collaborators would like to to thank and acknowledge his hard work and wisdom. Thanks to José Carlos González Pañeda, Marta Pérez and Thomas E. Holloway for the help and critical reading of the manuscript.

Author’s contributions

CGT, JAFP and EC conceived and planned the sampling and experiments. CGT and EC carried out the experiments. All authors provided critical feedback and helped shape the research, analysis and manuscript. HSN and AB contributed to the interpretation of the results. CGT took the lead in writing the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Claudia González-Toral had the financial support of the Government of Asturias (2002166- Programa Severo Ochoa). This research was partially supported by the research programme (PAPI-19-GR-2016-0010) funded by the University of Oviedo.

Funding

Claudia González-Toral had the financial support of the Government of Asturias (2002166- Programa Severo Ochoa). This research was partially supported by the research programme (PAPI-19-GR-2016-0010) funded by the University of Oviedo.

Funding

Claudia González-Toral had the financial support of the Government of Asturias (2002166- Programa Severo Ochoa). This research was partially supported by the research programme (PAPI-19-GR-2016-0010) funded by the University of Oviedo.