ABSTRACT--An
intraspecific chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) restriction site survey within
Coreopsis
grandiflora was used to evaluate the correspondence of genetic
variation
with patterns of morphological differentiation and geographical
separation.
Eight frequent-cutting restriction enzymes were used with a sample of
273
individuals representing 14 populations from two geographic
regions.
Thirteen distinct cpDNA haplotypes were detected, differing by as many
as 22 restriction site changes, or an estimated 0.674% nucleotide
sequence
divergence. The survey detected sufficient cpDNA variation for
analyses
of intraspecific and intrapopulational genetic structure, and yielded
evidence
for interpopulational gene flow, a cpDNA polymorphism that transcends
the
species boundary, and possible cpDNA introgression. Patterns of
genetic
diversity do not strictly correspond to either morphological variation
or to geographical distribution; this may be a result of either cpDNA
introgression
or the maintenance of a cpDNA polymorphism through the speciation event
that gave rise to C.
grandiflora.