Zhao MengLi

Effects of heavy grazing pressure on the random amplified polymorphic DNA marker diversity of mountain rough fescue (Festuca campestris Rydb.) in south western Alberta

Mengli, Z., Willms, W. D., Bing, H. and Laroche, A. 2005. Effects of heavy grazing pressure on the random amplified polymorphic DNA marker diversity of mountain rough fescue (Festuca campestris Rydb.) in south western Alberta. Can. J. Plant Sci. 85: 623‐629. The Fescue Grassland is found in the western portion of the Northern Great Plains in Canada. Grazing and cultivation threaten this grassland, and a better understanding of its character is needed to preserve its integrity. Mountain rough fescue is highly sensitive to grazing during the growing season, which results in smaller plants and the death of some. The death of plants suggests the potential loss of genetic diversity. Therefore, we compared the genetic diversity of mountain rough fescue plants from sites in south western Alberta (50°12′N, 113°54′W) that had either been heavily grazed by livestock or left ungrazed for 52 yr to determine if grazing pressure had affected their genetic composition. Thirty-four and 43 plants were sampled in the spring of 2001 from very heavily grazed and ungrazed subpopulations, respectively, and their DNA was analyzed using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Of the 15 primers used, 12 generated an average of seven polymorphic loci each. Ten loci were present at a frequency of 0.10 or less in the heavily grazed subpopulation and six in the ungrazed subpopulation. RAPD marker diversity between the heavily grazed and ungrazed subpopulations of mountain rough fescue was mainly the result of frequency differences (P < 0.05) produced by 20% of the total markers that were examined, while the subpopulations accounted for only 4.37% of total heterozygosity. Therefore, grazing affected frequency of some markers but did not eliminate genes that may be linked with grazing sensitivity or tolerance. Lack of clear genetic segregation between the subpopulations might be caused by a high gene flow (Nm = 10.92). This mechanism requires further testing in order to prescribe a suitable management response for restoring overgrazed grasslands.

Detection of genetic diversity in rough fescue (Festuca campestris Rydb) populations of southern Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, using RAPD markers

Mountain rough fescue (Festuca campestris Rydb.) is a tufted native grass in southern Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, and has attracted interest for use in reclamation. However, its seed is often available from only a few localized sources and may not be adapted for areas removed from the collection site. We conducted a study to determine the genetic variability among rough fescue populations to assess its potential adaptation. Thirty plants were collected from each of six populations and analyzed using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD). One population (Kamloops, BC) was separated by several mountain ranges from the five easterly Alberta populations.The Kamloops population was also separated from the Alberta populations by genetic distance in two clusters. Of the total genetic variation present in the data, 21% was found among populations while the remaining (79%) was found within populations. Nei’s genetic distances among populations were related to their geographical distances. Genetic diffe...