title: The use and limits of ITS data in the analysis of intraspecific variation in Passiflora L. (Passifloraceae).
abstract: The discovery and characterization of informative intraspecific genetic markers is fundamental for evolutionary and conservation genetics studies. Here, we used nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences to access intraspecific genetic diversity in 23 species of the genus Passiflora L. Some degree of variation was detected in 21 of these. The Passiflora and Decaloba (DC.) Rchb. subgenera showed significant differences in the sizes of the two ITS regions and in GC content, which can be related to reproductive characteristics of species in these subgenera. Furthermore, clear geographical patterns in the spatial distribution of sequence types were identified in six species. The results indicate that ITS may be a useful tool for the evaluation of intraspecific genetic variation in Passiflora.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS Brazil.
authors.forename: Geraldo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mäder
authors.forename: Priscilla M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Zamberlan
authors.forename: Nelson J R
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Fagundes
authors.forename: Tielli
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Magnus
authors.forename: Francisco M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Salzano
authors.forename: Sandro L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Bonatto
authors.forename: Loreta B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Freitas