Clonal diversity and genetic structure in Vaccinium myrtillus populations from different habitats

The life history traits of a clonal plant species, such as growth form and seedling recruitment pattern, influence the clonal diversity and structure within populations. Using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA markers, we investigated the variation in clonal diversity and in spatial structure of clones in Vaccinium myrtillus populations from different habitats (mineral heath, peaty heath and beech grove). The partitioning of the genetic variability within and between populations was also studied. A total of 95 clones were identified among the 586 samples analysed. Despite an intra-population variability in the clonal diversity and in spatial structure of clones, no difference was detected between the different studied habitats. Although there was some variation in growth strategy, V myrtillus exhibited a more typical phalanx growth form. Our results supported the hypothesis that the "recruitment at windows of opportunity" (RWO) is the most appropriate description of seedling recruitment in this species. In accordance with the life history traits of V myrtillus (long-lived species with a mixed breeding system and potentially high seed dispersal), a high proportion of the genetic variation was observed within populations (86%) and only a low proportion of the genetic variation was distributed between populations (14%)