Comparison of population genetic structures of common wild rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff.), as revealed by analyses of quantitative traits, allozymes, and RFLPs.

We investigated genetic diversity among and within natural populations of Asian common wild rice, Oryza rufipogon, from three different classes of data: quantitative traits, allozymes, and restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). The seven populations examined showed polymorphism to varying degrees. The amount of intrapopulation variability appeared to be influenced not only by breeding system but also by the evolutionary history of each population. Interpopulation differentiation was clear, but different classes of data elucidated different patterns. Quantitative traits revealed ecotype differentiation into perennial and annual types of population, whereas allozyme and RFLP analyses revealed geographical differentiation among populations. These results suggest that the diversity patterns shown by quantitative trait analysis reflect mainly the occurrence of adaptive differentiation in response to habitat conditions and that those shown by allozyme and RFLP analyses reflect mainly the effect of isolation by distance. Population differentiation parameters (F(ST)) were highly variable among loci in allozymes as well as in RFLPs.