Distribution of self-compatible and self-incompatible populations of Petunia axillaris (Solanaceae) outside Uruguay

Petunia axillaris occurs in temperate South America and consists of three allopatric subspecies: axillaris, parodii, and subandina. Previous studies have revealed that subsp. axillaris is self-incompatible (SI), subsp. parodii is self-compatible (SC) in Uruguay, and subsp. subandina is SC in Argentina. The SI/SC status over the entire distribution range is not completely understood, however. The objective of this study was to examine the overall SI/SC status of the respective subspecies in comparison with floral morphology. The results confirmed that subsp. parodii and subsp. subandina were SC throughout the distribution range, and that subsp. axillaris was also SC in Brazil and in most of the Argentinean territory. The SI P. axillaris occurs in the natural population only between 34 and 36°S, along the eastern shore of South America. The Brazilian and Uruguayan subsp. axillaris differed in SI/SC status and floral morphology. We discuss the cause of this difference.