Comparative analysis of molecular and morphological diversity in two diploid Paspalum species (Poaceae) with contrasting mating systems.

Key message: Interspecific comparison of two Paspalum species has demonstrated that mating systems (selfing and outcrossing) contribute to variation (genetically and morphologically) within species through similar but mutually exclusive processes. Mating systems play a key role in the genetic dynamics of populations. Studies show that populations of selfing plants have less genetic diversity than outcrossing plants. Yet, many such studies have ignored morphological diversity. Here, we compared the morphological and molecular diversity patterns in populations of two phylogenetically-related sexual diploids that differ in their mating system: self-sterile Paspalum indecorum and self-fertile P. pumilum. We assessed the morphological variation using 16 morpho-phenological characters and the molecular diversity using three combinations of AFLPs. We compared the morphological and molecular diversity within and among populations in each mating system. Contrary to expectations, selfers showed higher morphological variation within populations, mainly in vegetative and phenological traits, compared to outcrossers. The high morphological variation within populations of selfers led to a low differentiation among populations. At molecular level, selfing populations showed lower levels of genotypic and genetic diversity than outcrossing populations. As expected, selfers showed higher population structure than outcrossers (Phi_ST = 0.301 and Phi_ST = 0.108, respectively). Increased homozygous combinations for the same trait/locus enhance morphological variation and reduce molecular variation within populations in selfing P. pumilum. Thus, selfing outcomes are opposite when comparing morphological and molecular variation in P. pumilum. Meanwhile, pollen flow in obligate outcrossing populations of P. indecorum increases within-population molecular variation, but tends to homogenize phenotypes within-population. Pollen flow in obligate outcrossers tends to merge geographically closer populations; but isolation by distance can lead to a weak differentiation among distant populations of P. indecorum.