Molecular taxonomy of Vicia ser. Vicia based on Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms

Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) were used to study the taxonomic relationships in Vicia ser. Vicia. 109 accessions representing the taxa and distribution in the series were evaluated using two primer combinations in an attempt to clarify its taxonomy. The study concludes that four species exist in the series. Vicia incisa should be considered as a separate taxon and does not belong to the Vicia sativa aggregate. Within the series Vicia pyrenaica appears to be the most closely related to the Vicia sativa aggregate. Within the aggregate 6 taxa can be recognised. They are very closely related and for none of the taxa in the aggregate is there a taxon-specific absence or presence of AFLP bands. We consider these taxa to be subspecies. Several accessions belonging to the aggregate were found which could not be placed within one of the taxa and are most likely the products of mutations or hybridisation between taxa.