Amplified fragment length polymorphism and parentage analysis of a feral barberry (berberis thunbergii dc.) population to determine the contribution of an ornamental landscape genotype

Abstract

We investigated the role of an ornamental, purple-leaved specimen of Japanese barberry in a local invasion using parentage analysis. We focused on a landscape plant of B. thunbergii var. atropurpurea in Willington, CT, that was first established at least 30 years ago. We genotyped every barberry plant found within a 92-m radius of this individual. In contrast to feral populations that are distant from residential or commercial plantings, 14% of the 43 feral plants in our sample had purple foliage and 30% were found growing within 16.5 m of the focal individual. Parentage analysis identified seven plants (five purple-leaved and two green-leaved) as descendants of the focal individual. Five of these descendants are likely first-generation offspring and two are likely second-generation seedlings. In addition, one plant was identified as a backcross between the focal plant and one of its offspring. Our results show that purple-leaved Japanese barberry used in residential landscapes can contribute to plant invasions, at least under some circumstances.