MSAP and AFLP fingerprints

Plant species differ in their ecological amplitude, with some species
occurring in very different habitats under strongly differentiated
environmental conditions. We were interested in to what extent the
occurrence of Linum catharticum in dry calcareous grasslands (Bromion) and
wet litter meadows (Molinion), two habitats on opposing ends concerning
e.g., moisture level, is reflected on the genetic and epigenetic level.
Using AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphisms) and MSAP (methylation
sensitive amplification polymorphisms) analyses we studied the genetic and
epigenetic variation of L. catharticum from calcareous grasslands and
litter meadows. From each habitat we included five study sites with 16
individuals per sampling location. We observed lower genetic than
epigenetic diversity, but considerable differentiation among habitats,
which was stronger on the genetic than the epigenetic level. Additionally
we observed a strong correlation of genetic and epigenetic distance,
irrespective of geographic distance. The dataset included a large portion
of fragments exclusively found in individuals from one or the other
habitat. Some epigenetic fragments even occurred in different methylation
states depending on the habitat. We conclude that environmental effects
act on both the genetic and epigenetic level, producing the clear
differentiation among plant individuals from calcareous grasslands and
litter meadows. These results may also point into the direction of ecotype
formation in this species.