While the link between clonality and species invasiveness has recently been recognized, whether and how clonality vary with different invasion stages remains open questions. Hence, we tested the relationship between clonality and species invasiveness of Kashmir Himalayan aquatic macrophytes vis-à-vis its variability along different stages of invasion. The data on clonality, stage of invasion and growth form were obtained through an extensive survey of literature and database like CLO-PLA and PLADIAS followed by evaluation of the clonal organs through intensive field surveys undertaken over a period of 3 years (2014–2017) in different aquatic habitats of the Kashmir valley. Our results showed that 84% of the studied species and almost 90% of the most invasive species (stage Vsensu Colautti and MacIsaac: Divers Distrib 10(2):135–141, 2004) are clonal. A highly significant positive correlation between clonality and invasiveness was observed, which further substantiates this association at a broad geographical scale representing the whole region. The distinction of clonal growth forms and significant positive correlation between clonality and different clonal growth organs (rhizomes, runners and turions) further affirm the strong nexus of clonality with species invasions. Future studies directed at unraveling the reasons behind clonality need to be undertaken from the genomic perspective, in order to develop better means for proper management of alien aquatic invasive species.

虽然最近人们已经认识到克隆性和物种入侵之间的联系，但克隆性是否以及如何随着不同的入侵阶段而变化仍然是一个悬而未决的问题。因此，我们测试了克什米尔喜马拉雅水生大型植物的克隆性与物种入侵之间的关系，以及其在不同入侵阶段的变异性。通过对 CLO-PLA 和 PLADIAS 等文献和数据库进行广泛调查，然后通过为期 3 年（2014-2017 年）的密集实地调查对克隆器官进行评估，获得有关克隆性、入侵阶段和生长形式的数据在克什米尔山谷的不同水生栖息地。我们的结果表明，84% 的研究物种和几乎 90% 的最具侵入性的物种（阶段 V sensuColautti 和 MacIsaac：Divers Distrib 10(2):135–141, 2004) 是克隆的。观察到克隆性和侵袭性之间存在高度显着的正相关，这在代表整个地区的广泛地理范围内进一步证实了这种关联。克隆生长形式的区别以及克隆性与不同克隆生长器官（根茎、转生者和长茎）之间的显着正相关进一步证实了克隆性与物种入侵的强烈联系。未来的研究需要从基因组的角度来阐明克隆性背后的原因，以便开发更好的方法来适当管理外来水生入侵物种。