<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Wild lettuces (<italic>Lactuca</italic> L.) provide valuable genetic resources for crop breeding, but are also significant invasive weeds. We explored the distributions, habitats, and ecological characteristics of populations of wild <italic>Lactuca</italic> species in central Chile. We documented two species – <italic>Lactuca serriola</italic> L. (prickly lettuce) and <italic>Lactuca virosa</italic> L. (opium/bitter lettuce) in 204 localities. These observations indicate that: i) both allochthonous (Euroasian) <italic>Lactuca</italic> species occur and are able to regenerate in central Chile; ii) <italic>L. serriola</italic> forms dense populations in urbanized areas; iii) both species can expand along transport corridors to high elevations; iv) the spread of <italic>L. virosa</italic> and persistence of dense populations in elevations above 2,000 m a.s.l. prove the invasiveness of this species in extreme climates; v) both species may contain novel traits of interest for germplasm conservation.</p></abstract>

Wild lettuces (Lactuca L.) provide valuable genetic resources for crop breeding, but are also significant invasive weeds. We explored the distributions, habitats, and ecological characteristics of populations of wild Lactuca species in central Chile. We documented two species – Lactuca serriola L. (prickly lettuce) and Lactuca virosa L. (opium/bitter lettuce) in 204 localities. These observations indicate that: i) both allochthonous (Euroasian) Lactuca species occur and are able to regenerate in central Chile; ii) L. serriola forms dense populations in urbanized areas; iii) both species can expand along transport corridors to high elevations; iv) the spread of L. virosa and persistence of dense populations in elevations above 2,000 m a.s.l. prove the invasiveness of this species in extreme climates; v) both species may contain novel traits of interest for germplasm conservation.

Distribution and ecology of wild lettuces <italic>Lactuca serriola</italic> L. and <italic>Lactuca virosa</italic> L. in central Chile

Palacký University in Olomouc, Faculty of Science

United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service

National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation

Departamento de Ciencias naturales y Matemáticas

Hacquetia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Distribution and ecology of wild lettuces  L. and  L. in central Chile

Wild lettuces (Lactuca L.) provide valuable genetic resources for crop breeding, but are also significant invasive weeds. We explored the distributions,...

Distribution and ecology of wild lettuces Lactuca serriola L. and Lactuca virosa L. in central Chile

Publicado en línea: 12 feb 2022

Páginas: 173 - 186

Recibido: 16 oct 2020

Aceptado: 10 jul 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/hacq-2021-0019

Palabras clave
allochthonous species, elevational limits, germplasm conservation, opium lettuce, plant invasion, prickly lettuce

© 2022 Aleš Lebeda et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Distribution and ecology of wild lettuces Lactuca serriola L. and Lactuca virosa L. in central Chile

Publicado en línea: 12 feb 2022

Páginas: 173 - 186

Recibido: 16 oct 2020

Aceptado: 10 jul 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/hacq-2021-0019

Palabras claveallochthonous species, elevational limits, germplasm conservation, opium lettuce, plant invasion, prickly lettuce

© 2022 Aleš Lebeda et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Palabras clave
allochthonous species, elevational limits, germplasm conservation, opium lettuce, plant invasion, prickly lettuce