Morphometric and genetic differentiation of diploid and hexaploid populations of Aster amellus agg. in a contact zone

The aim of this study is to determine the origin, genetic relationships and morphological differences between diploid and hexaploid cytotypes of Aster amellus aggregate (Asteraceae) at their contact zone in the Czech Republic. We collected data on morphological and isozyme variation in a range of populations of the two cytotypes. We also studied the plasticity of the morphological traits in a common garden. The results suggest that hexaploid individuals of Aster amellus aggregate are of autopolyploid origin. The isozyme data indicate that diploids and hexaploids have different evolutionary histories. This, together with previous detailed cytological and ecological analyses, suggests that there is a secondary contact zone between the two cytotypes in the Czech Republic. The results of multivariate morphometric analyses and data on plasticity of the morphological traits indicate that it is not possible to distinguish the two cytotypes morphologically. The previously published morphological distinction between the cytotypes is thus not supported.