Speciation of Viola albida var. takahashii based on both artificial and natural hybridization between V. albida var. albida and V. albida var. chaerophylloides

Abstract

The study aims are to examine the characteristics of artificial and natural hybrids between Viola albida var. albida (= albida, from below) and V. albida var. chaerophylloides (= chaerophylloides, from below), and to confirm if hybrids could be fertile and make populations in their native habitats. The 1st filial (= F₁, from below) leaf shape produced by artificial crossing between albida and chaerophylloides was the same as that of V. albida var. takahashii (= takahashii, from below), and F₁ bore also both chasmogamous and cleistogamous flowers. F₁ seed number was 9.6 per cleistogamous pods, which was remarkably less than the average of 38.2 for albida and chaerophylloides, but the germination rate was all similar. The leaf type of self-crossed 2nd offsprings (= F₂, from below) showed all leaf types found in the Viola albida complex, but the ratio of chaerophylloides leaf type was relatively low. Individuals whose F₂ leaf type was restored to albida produced an average of 31.4 seeds per capsule, meaning that fertility was restored. On the other hand, individuals of F₂ takahashii leaf type come to fruition a low average of 10.4 seeds per capsule, which is similar to that of takahashii. The results of crossbreeding experiment, where is their native habitats, were similar to that of laboratory. Both albida and chaerophylloids in Mt. Bulmyeong distribute extensively, but takahashii make a small population only in places where albida and chaerophylloides grow together. Summarizing the above results is suggesting that the speciation of takahashii was done by hybrid between albida and chaerophylloides, and these have been maintained with relatively small population by cleistogamous capsules.