The submerged aquatic species Egeria najas occurs naturally in the Parana River Basin - Brazil. Several lakes have been constructed by CESP - Centrais Elétricas do Estado de São Paulo S.A. in the river basin, changing the ecology of the region. The species have altered their establishment strategy, and now grows in large, dense populations on the floor of Jupia Lake and its tributaries. This has had a negative impact on electricity generation as the branches of these species routinely block the hydroelectric turbines. We used genetic markers to study the pattern of genetic diversity in the species using plant material collected along Jupia Lake and the Paraná River Tributaries. Isoenzymes have shown four different biotypes, however, the RAPD technique has demonstrated greater genetic variability among individuals. The creation of Jupia Lake has resulted in an increase in genetic variability probably by migration of large amount of seeds and vegetative branches. These materials are increasing the genetic diversity in populations in the lake by favoring outcrossing among different genotypes. Results also present a possible understanding of Egeria najas genotype migrations in populations in the Jupia Lake and its tributaries.
Weed; isoenzymes; aquatic Weeds