Genetic Variation versus Morphological Variability in European Peatland Violets (Viola epipsila-V. palustris Group)

In Europe, the V. epipsila-V. palustris group comprises V. epipsila Ledeb., V. palustris L., V. pubifolia (Kuta) G. H. Loos (=V. palustris subsp. pubifolia Kuta), interspecific hybrids, and putative introgressants. The genetic affinity of V. pubifolia to V. palustris, and their shared origin via hybridization followed by polyploidization, were confirmed using inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers, restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-Seq), and a low-copy nuclear gene, GPI, which encodes glucose-6-phosphate isomerase. The other taxa of subsect. Stolonosae were not identified as putative parents of V. pubifolia by GPI. Our analyses indicated that V. pubifolia can be included in the morphological and genetic variation of V. palustris. The ISSR, RAD-Seq, and genome size value separated well V. palustris from V. epipsila and hybrids. The results also reopen the discussion on intraspecific variation in the context of taxa ranks and species concepts. The reduced tolerance of V. epipsila in Europe to changing environmental conditions might result from low genetic differentiation and heterozygosity, as well as the increased number of interspecific hybrids (V. epipsila × V. palustris), and eventually can possibly lead to its extinction. The disappearance of populations/individuals of this species may indicate anthropogenic changes occurring in peatlands.