Genetic variability is correlated with population size and reproduction in American wild-rice (Zizania palustris var. palustris, Poaceae) populations.

American wild-rice (Zizania palustris var. palustris) has served as a staple for indigenous North Americans for thousands of years, but has had significant habitat losses in recent centuries. We investigated genetic variability among 17 wild-rice populations in northern Wisconsin using 13 isozyme markers. We then compared these genetic patterns to differences in habitat and population characteristics and phenotypic variation in plant growth and reproduction across sites. Wild-rice's mean genetic diversity (0.15) is moderate compared to wind-pollinated outcrossers but lower than the mean (0.20) reported for the Poaceae. Estimated inbreeding coefficients within populations (f) average 0.12 but vary greatly among the populations (from -0.44-0.52), suggesting heterogeneous population histories. Larger populations in larger lakes express higher levels of genetic variability and smaller inbreeding coefficients than smaller or more isolated populations. The number of panicles per plant is also higher in populations with greater genetic variability. Estimated genetic differentiation among the 17 populations (F(ST)) was high (0.30), suggesting limited gene flow among drainages. Wild-rice population size and degree of isolation have opposing effects on its genetic variability, and plant performance is positively associated with genetic variability.