ISSR variation in a worldwide collection of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti ) and the genetic background of weedy strains mingled in grains imported into Japan

Velvetleaf seeds have been found in imported grains in Japan. The plants from these seeds show a weedy growth habit, such as that seen in the noxious velvetleaf which has recently emerged in Japan and noted in our previous study. To elucidate the genetic background of the velvetleaf strains found in imported grains we evaluated the genetic variation of six strains and an additional 39 worldwide velvetleaf accessions using the intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) polymorphism. Cluster analysis based on the ISSR polymorphism emitted two major clusters which corresponded well with classification by growth habit, that is, crop type and weed type. Five of the six strains from the imported grains formed a small cluster. All six strains united into one major cluster containing the weed type accessions, while all of the old Japanese accessions formed another major cluster containing the crop type accessions. The genetic difference between imported weedy velvetleaf and old Japanese accessions suggests that imported velvetleaves are the source of the recent outbreak of the noxious velvetleaf in Japan.