Articles
Genetic analysis of highbush cranberry (Viburnum spp.) cultivars reveals misidentifications
Article number
1467_25
Pages
209 – 216
Language
English
Abstract
European highbush cranberry or Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus) is one of the oldest ornamental shrubs from Europe, with named cultivars grown since at least 1554. Introduction of V. opulus into North America occurred as early as 1811; this was later followed by the 1882 introduction of Asian highbush cranberry or Sargent viburnum (V. sargentii) by the Arnold Arboretum.
These species, particularly V. opulus, have maintained their popularity as ornamental shrubs to the present and are planted widely throughout the United States as ornamental landscape plants.
Subsequent dispersal of seed by birds and mammals allowed these plants to escape cultivation and naturalize widely throughout North America, where they threaten to displace and hybridize with American highbush cranberry (V. trilobum), which is unique among the three species for its edible fruit resembling cultivated cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon). We conducted an extensive genetic analysis of these three species to understand their genetic structure and rates of hybridization, particularly within the invaded range of V. trilobum. Both V. opulus and, to a lesser extent, V. opulus × V. sargentii hybrids are confirmed to be sympatric with V. trilobum throughout much of the Great Lakes region, although hybridization with V. trilobum remains a notably rare occurrence.
This situation presents a unique opportunity to halt the formation of a hybrid swarm and conserve native V. trilobum, though it would require coordinated efforts among land managers, nurseries, and regulators.
Morphological similarity of V. trilobum to its Eurasian congeners leads to frequent misidentifications, complicating conservation efforts.
Here, we present genetically informed species identifications for several of the most popular cultivars among the three taxa, emphasizing the impacts of cultivar misidentification on V. trilobum conservation and the need for genetic testing of nursery stocks to meet consumer demand for native plants.
These species, particularly V. opulus, have maintained their popularity as ornamental shrubs to the present and are planted widely throughout the United States as ornamental landscape plants.
Subsequent dispersal of seed by birds and mammals allowed these plants to escape cultivation and naturalize widely throughout North America, where they threaten to displace and hybridize with American highbush cranberry (V. trilobum), which is unique among the three species for its edible fruit resembling cultivated cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon). We conducted an extensive genetic analysis of these three species to understand their genetic structure and rates of hybridization, particularly within the invaded range of V. trilobum. Both V. opulus and, to a lesser extent, V. opulus × V. sargentii hybrids are confirmed to be sympatric with V. trilobum throughout much of the Great Lakes region, although hybridization with V. trilobum remains a notably rare occurrence.
This situation presents a unique opportunity to halt the formation of a hybrid swarm and conserve native V. trilobum, though it would require coordinated efforts among land managers, nurseries, and regulators.
Morphological similarity of V. trilobum to its Eurasian congeners leads to frequent misidentifications, complicating conservation efforts.
Here, we present genetically informed species identifications for several of the most popular cultivars among the three taxa, emphasizing the impacts of cultivar misidentification on V. trilobum conservation and the need for genetic testing of nursery stocks to meet consumer demand for native plants.
Authors
D.G. Tork, N.O. Anderson, A. Brusa, A.G. Smith
Keywords
V. trilobum, V. opulus, V. sargentii, ornamental, conservation, nursery, DArTseq
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