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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 57(7)

Limited ecoclinal variation found in Malva parviflora (small-flowered mallow) across the Mediterranean-climatic agricultural region of Western Australia

Pippa J. Michael A B D , Kathryn J. Steadman A C and Julie A. Plummer B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Western Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.

B School of Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.

C Current address: School of Pharmacy, Division of Health Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: pippamichael@graduate.uwa.edu.au

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57(7) 823-830 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR05187
Submitted: 26 May 2005  Accepted: 3 February 2006   Published: 14 July 2006

Abstract

Malva parviflora L. populations were collected from 24 locations across the Mediterranean–climatic agricultural region of Western Australia and grown in Perth in a common garden experiment. Seventeen morphometric and taxonomic measurements were taken and genetic variation was investigated by performing principal components analysis (PCA). Taxonomic measurements confirmed that all plants used in the study were M. parviflora. Greater variation occurred within populations than between populations. Separation between populations was only evident between northern and southern populations along principal components 2 (PC2), which was due mainly to flowering time. Flowering time and consequently photoperiod were highly correlated with latitude and regression analysis revealed a close relationship (r2 = 0.6). Additionally, the pollination system of M. parviflora was examined. Plants were able to self-pollinate without the need for external vectors and the pollen–ovule ratio (31 ± 1.3) revealed that M. parviflora is most likely to be an obligate inbreeder with a slight potential for outcrossing. The limited variation of M. parviflora enhances the likelihood of suitable control strategies being effective across a broad area.

Additional keywords: Malvaceae, small-flowered mallow, weed.


Acknowledgments

This study was part of Pippa Michael’s PhD dissertation, which was funded by the Grains and Research Development Corporation of Australia. We thank Dr Martin Vila Auib (UWA) and Dr Sarita Bennett for reviewing the manuscript and Dr Kevin Murray (UWA) and David Ferris (Department of Agriculture, Western Australia) for statistical advice. For seed supplies we thank many helpful farmers from the agricultural community, Vanessa Stewart and Alex Douglas (Department of Agriculture, Western Australia).


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