Research Article

Morphological Plasticity and Genetic Diversity of Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. across Contrasting Disturbance Regimes Revealed by Chloroplast and Nuclear DNA Markers

Number: 1 October 20, 2026

Morphological Plasticity and Genetic Diversity of Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. across Contrasting Disturbance Regimes Revealed by Chloroplast and Nuclear DNA Markers

Abstract

Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. is one of the most aggressive and widely distributed weed species in tropical agroecosystems. It exhibits remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and anthropogenic disturbances. Its persistence across contrasting habitats is attributed to high reproductive capacity, strong competitive ability, and considerable phenotypic plasticity, making it a major challenge for sustainable weed management. Understanding the relationship between morphological variation and genetic diversity is essential for elucidating its adaptive strategies. This study examined the morphological variation and genetic diversity of E. indica across three contrasting habitats with different disturbance intensities using chloroplast and nuclear DNA markers. A total of 45 mature E. indica plants were collected for reproductive and vegetative morphological characterization, while 18 representative samples were selected for genetic diversity analyses. Reproductive traits including spike length, peduncle length, and seed length differed significantly among habitats (p < 0.05), indicating reproductive variation in response to environmental conditions. Genetic diversity analysis using the chloroplast psbA–trnH intergenic spacer revealed limited sequence variation, with only two haplotypes detected among the sampled populations. Similarly, inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) marker analysis showed no significant genetic differentiation among habitats (p ≥ 0.05), with molecular variation occurring predominantly within populations. The combined findings from chloroplast and nuclear DNA markers indicate limited genetic structuring despite significant morphological variation across habitats, providing valuable information into the adaptive strategies of E. indica under contrasting disturbance regimes and supporting the development of effective weed management strategies.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Agronomy

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

October 20, 2026

Submission Date

November 24, 2025

Acceptance Date

July 27, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 1

APA
Gunavathy, S., & Pei Sin, T. (2026). Morphological Plasticity and Genetic Diversity of Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. across Contrasting Disturbance Regimes Revealed by Chloroplast and Nuclear DNA Markers. Yuzuncu Yıl University Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 1, 1828778. https://doi.org/10.29133/yyutbd.1828778
AMA
1.Gunavathy S, Pei Sin T. Morphological Plasticity and Genetic Diversity of Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. across Contrasting Disturbance Regimes Revealed by Chloroplast and Nuclear DNA Markers. YYU J AGR SCI. 2026;(1):1828778. doi:10.29133/yyutbd.1828778
Chicago
Gunavathy, Selvarajh, and Tong Pei Sin. 2026. “Morphological Plasticity and Genetic Diversity of Eleusine Indica (L.) Gaertn. Across Contrasting Disturbance Regimes Revealed by Chloroplast and Nuclear DNA Markers”. Yuzuncu Yıl University Journal of Agricultural Sciences, no. 1: 1828778. https://doi.org/10.29133/yyutbd.1828778.
EndNote
Gunavathy S, Pei Sin T (October 1, 2026) Morphological Plasticity and Genetic Diversity of Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. across Contrasting Disturbance Regimes Revealed by Chloroplast and Nuclear DNA Markers. Yuzuncu Yıl University Journal of Agricultural Sciences 1 1828778.
IEEE
[1]S. Gunavathy and T. Pei Sin, “Morphological Plasticity and Genetic Diversity of Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. across Contrasting Disturbance Regimes Revealed by Chloroplast and Nuclear DNA Markers”, YYU J AGR SCI, no. 1, p. 1828778, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.29133/yyutbd.1828778.
ISNAD
Gunavathy, Selvarajh - Pei Sin, Tong. “Morphological Plasticity and Genetic Diversity of Eleusine Indica (L.) Gaertn. Across Contrasting Disturbance Regimes Revealed by Chloroplast and Nuclear DNA Markers”. Yuzuncu Yıl University Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 1 (October 1, 2026): 1828778. https://doi.org/10.29133/yyutbd.1828778.
JAMA
1.Gunavathy S, Pei Sin T. Morphological Plasticity and Genetic Diversity of Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. across Contrasting Disturbance Regimes Revealed by Chloroplast and Nuclear DNA Markers. YYU J AGR SCI. 2026;:1828778.
MLA
Gunavathy, Selvarajh, and Tong Pei Sin. “Morphological Plasticity and Genetic Diversity of Eleusine Indica (L.) Gaertn. Across Contrasting Disturbance Regimes Revealed by Chloroplast and Nuclear DNA Markers”. Yuzuncu Yıl University Journal of Agricultural Sciences, no. 1, Oct. 2026, p. 1828778, doi:10.29133/yyutbd.1828778.
Vancouver
1.Selvarajh Gunavathy, Tong Pei Sin. Morphological Plasticity and Genetic Diversity of Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. across Contrasting Disturbance Regimes Revealed by Chloroplast and Nuclear DNA Markers. YYU J AGR SCI. 2026 Oct. 1;(1):1828778. doi:10.29133/yyutbd.1828778
Creative Commons License
Yuzuncu Yil University Journal of Agricultural Sciences by Van Yuzuncu Yil University Faculty of Agriculture is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.