Clonality and sexual reproductive failure in remnant populations of Santalum lanceolatum (Santalaceae) Original Research Article

Habitat fragmentation can have important conservation consequences for clonal plant species that possess self-incompatibility mechanisms, as lack of genetic variability within remnant populations may result in sexual reproductive failure. Allozymes and RAPDs were used in this study to determine the extent of clonality in remnant Victorian populations of the northern sandalwood, Santalum lanceolatum (Santalaceae), a species that has been heavily wild-harvested. S. lanceolatum can reproduce asexually by root suckers, and each population was identified as a unique single clone composed of numerous ramets of a single genet. Examination of pollination and fruit set indicated that little or no sexual reproduction was occurring in the remnants, due to pollen sterility in one population and self-incompatibility or pistil dysfunction in others. Clonality, genetic isolation and sexual reproductive failure indicate that preservation of each population, and possibly the establishment of new ones, should be objectives of the conservation strategy for the S. lanceolatum remnants.