scholarly journals How diverse can rare species be on the margins of genera distribution?

AoB Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice Backes ◽  
Geraldo Mäder ◽  
Caroline Turchetto ◽  
Ana Lúcia Segatto ◽  
Jeferson N Fregonezi ◽  
...  

Abstract Different genetic patterns have been demonstrated for narrowly distributed taxa, many of them linking rarity to evolutionary history. Quite a few species in young genera are endemics and have several populations that present low variability, sometimes attributed to geographical isolation or dispersion processes. Assessing the genetic diversity and structure of such species may be important for protecting them and understanding their diversification history. In this study, we used microsatellite markers and plastid sequences to characterize the levels of genetic variation and population structure of two endemic and restricted species that grow in isolated areas on the margin of the distribution of their respective genera. Plastid and nuclear diversities were very low and weakly structured in their populations. Evolutionary scenarios for both species are compatible with open-field expansions during the Pleistocene interglacial periods and genetic variability supports founder effects to explain diversification. At present, both species are suffering from habitat loss and changes in the environment can lead these species towards extinction.

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 35218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Gonçalves Guimarães ◽  
Antônio Teixeira do Amaral Júnior ◽  
Janeo Eustáquio de Almeida Filho ◽  
Guilherme Ferreira Pena ◽  
Cássio Vittorazzi ◽  
...  

The success of any recurrent selection program depends on the genetic variability of the evaluated population, which is used to refer to the diversity of existing alleles at many genetic loci. Thus, the goal of the present study was to investigate the impact of recurrent selection across nine cycles of a UENF-14 popcorn population through the analysis of genetic diversity and structure using microsatellite markers (EST-SSRs). Genomic DNA was extracted from young leaves of 25 individuals from each cycle (C0, C1 C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, and C8), totaling 225 samples from the UENF-14 population. Fifty EST-SSR markers were used for the analysis of genetic diversity across the recurrent selection cycles, 16 of which were polymorphic. Thirty-four alleles were detected, with an average of 2.13 alleles per locus. Throughout all the recurrent selection cycles, there was a reduction in heterozygosity and an increase in inbreeding. The population structure showed a sharing of alleles, inferring that some may be directly related to the main selection characteristics.


PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11702
Author(s):  
Shikai Guan ◽  
Qian Song ◽  
Jinye Zhou ◽  
Haixia Yan ◽  
Yuxiang Li ◽  
...  

Background The wishbone flower or Torenia fournieri Lind., an annual from tropical Indochina and southern China, is a popular ornamental plant, and many interspecific (T. fournieri × T. concolor) hybrid lines have been bred for the international market. The cultivated lines show a pattern of genetic similarity that correlates with floral color which informs on future breeding strategies. This study aimed to perform genetic analysis and population structure of cultivated hybrid lines comparing with closely related T. concolor wild populations. Methods We applied the retrotransposon based iPBS marker system for genotyping of a total of 136 accessions from 17 lines/populations of Torenia. These included 15 cultivated lines of three series: Duchess (A, B, C); Kauai (D, E, F, G, H, I, J); Little Kiss (K, L, M, N, P) and two wild T. concolor populations (Q and R). PCR products from each individual were applied to estimate the genetic diversity and differentiation between lines/populations. Results Genotyping results showed a pattern of genetic variation differentiating the 17 lines/populations characterized by their specific floral colors. The final PCoA analysis, phylogenetic tree construction, and Bayesian population structural bar plot all showed a clear subdivision of lines/populations analysed. The 15 cultivated hybrid lines and the wild population Q that collected from a small area showed the lowest genetic variability while the other wild population R which sampled from a larger area had the highest genetic variability. Discussion The extremely low genetic variability of 15 cultivated lines indicated that individual line has similar reduction in diversity/heterozygosity from a bottleneck event, and each retained a similar (but different from each other) content of the wild genetic diversity. The genetic variance for the two wild T. concolor populations could be due to our varied sampling methods. The two wild populations (Q, R) and the cultivated hybrid lines (I, K, M, N, P) are genetically more closely related, but strong positive correlations presented in cultivated lines A, C, E, M, and N. These results could be used to guide future Torenia breeding. Conclusions The genetic variation and population structure found in our study showed that cultivated hybrid lines had similar reduction in diversity/heterozygosity from a bottleneck event and each line retained a similar (but different from each other) content of the wild genetic diversity, especially when strong phenotypic selection of floral color overlaps. Generally, environmental factors could induce transposon activation and generate genetic variability which enabled the acceleration of the evolutionary process of wild Torenia species. Our study revealed that wild Torenia populations sampled from broad geographic region represent stronger species strength with outstanding genetic diversity, but selective breeding targeting a specific floral color decreased such genetic variability.


Parasitology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 146 (3) ◽  
pp. 356-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda Solórzano García ◽  
Amanda D. Melin ◽  
Filippo Aureli ◽  
Gerardo Pérez Ponce de León

AbstractPatterns of genetic variation among populations can reveal the evolutionary history of species. Pinworm parasites are highly host specific and form strong co-evolutionary associations with their primate hosts. Here, we describe the genetic variation observed in four Trypanoxyuris species infecting different howler and spider monkey subspecies in Central America to determine if historical dispersal processes and speciation in the host could explain the genetic patterns observed in the parasites. Mitochondrial (cox1) and ribosomal (28S) DNA were analysed to assess genetic divergence and phylogenetic history of these parasites. Sequences of the 28S gene were identical within pinworms species regardless of host subspecies. However, phylogenetic analyses, haplotype relationships and genetic divergence with cox1 showed differentiation between pinworm populations according to host subspecies in three of the four Trypanoxyuris species analysed. Haplotype separation between host subspecies was not observed in Trypanoxyuris minutus, nor in Trypanoxyuris atelis from Ateles geoffoyi vellerosus and Ateles geoffoyi yucatanensis. Levels of genetic diversity and divergence in these parasites relate with such estimates reported for their hosts. This study shows how genetic patterns uncovered in parasitic organisms can reflect the host phylogenetic and biogeographic histories.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fehintola V. Ajogbasile ◽  
Adeyemi T. Kayode ◽  
Paul E. Oluniyi ◽  
Kazeem O. Akano ◽  
Jessica N. Uwanibe ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Malaria remains a public health burden especially in Nigeria. To develop new malaria control and elimination strategies or refine existing ones, understanding parasite population diversity and transmission patterns is crucial. Methods In this study, characterization of the parasite diversity and structure of Plasmodium falciparum isolates from 633 dried blood spot samples in Nigeria was carried out using 12 microsatellite loci of P. falciparum. These microsatellite loci were amplified via semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fragments were analysed using population genetic tools. Results Estimates of parasite genetic diversity, such as mean number of different alleles (13.52), effective alleles (7.13), allelic richness (11.15) and expected heterozygosity (0.804), were high. Overall linkage disequilibrium was weak (0.006, P < 0.001). Parasite population structure was low (Fst: 0.008–0.105, AMOVA: 0.039). Conclusion The high level of parasite genetic diversity and low population structuring in this study suggests that parasite populations circulating in Nigeria are homogenous. However, higher resolution methods, such as the 24 SNP barcode and whole genome sequencing, may capture more specific parasite genetic signatures circulating in the country. The results obtained can be used as a baseline for parasite genetic diversity and structure, aiding in the formulation of appropriate therapeutic and control strategies in Nigeria.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 737
Author(s):  
Issiaka Bagayoko ◽  
Marcos Giovanni Celli ◽  
Gustavo Romay ◽  
Nils Poulicard ◽  
Agnès Pinel-Galzi ◽  
...  

The rice stripe necrosis virus (RSNV) has been reported to infect rice in several countries in Africa and South America, but limited genomic data are currently publicly available. Here, eleven RSNV genomes were entirely sequenced, including the first corpus of RSNV genomes of African isolates. The genetic variability was differently distributed along the two genomic segments. The segment RNA1, within which clusters of polymorphisms were identified, showed a higher nucleotidic variability than did the beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) RNA1 segment. The diversity patterns of both viruses were similar in the RNA2 segment, except for an in-frame insertion of 243 nucleotides located in the RSNV tgbp1 gene. Recombination events were detected into RNA1 and RNA2 segments, in particular in the two most divergent RSNV isolates from Colombia and Sierra Leone. In contrast to BNYVV, the RSNV molecular diversity had a geographical structure with two main RSNV lineages distributed in America and in Africa. Our data on the genetic diversity of RSNV revealed unexpected differences with BNYVV suggesting a complex evolutionary history of the genus Benyvirus.


2008 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 621-630 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa de Carvalho Cayres Pamponet ◽  
Paulo Luiz Souza Carneiro ◽  
Paulo Roberto Antunes de Mello Affonso ◽  
Viviam Souto Miranda ◽  
Juvenal Cordeiro Silva Júnior ◽  
...  

Few reports are available about the ichthyofauna of typical semi-arid rivers, although the regional diversity has been constantly threatened by human activities, mainly related to impoundment and construction of dams. The goal of the present work was to evaluate using different methods, the population genetic structure of a characin fish, Astyanax aff. bimaculatus, widespread throughout hydrographic basins of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil. Morphological (meristic and morphometric data), cytogenetic (karyotype and Ag-NOR), and molecular (RAPD and SPAR) analyses were carried out in specimens collected upstream and downstream of Pedra Dam, in the main channel of Contas River (Contas River Basin), and in the Mineiro stream, which belongs to the adjacent Recôncavo Sul basin. Few external differences were detected among populations, where the individuals collected upstream of Pedra Dam were slightly larger than the others. Cytogenetic data also showed a similar karyotypic pattern (2n=50; 6m+28sm+12st+4a; FN= 96) and NORs located on the short arms of up to two chromosome pairs, with numerical inter- and intra-populational variation. Nonetheless, RAPD and SPAR analyses differentiated reliably the three populations, revealing striking differences in the allele frequencies among the localities studied and a significant difference in population structure index (Fst=0.1868, P<0.0001). The differences between populations within a same river were as significant as those between distinct hydrographic basins, indicating that the dam/reservoir represents an effective barrier to gene flow. Additionally, environmental peculiarities from each locality are also believed to influence the genetic patterns detected herein. On the other hand, the similarity between samples from Contas River and Recôncavo Sul basins could be related to a common evolutionary history, since both basins are geographically close to each other. Finally, the present study shows that a multi-approach analysis is particularly useful in identifying the population structure of widely distributed species and to evaluate the impacts of human activities on natural fish populations.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Varun Hiremath ◽  
Kanwar Pal Singh ◽  
Neelu Jain ◽  
Kishan Swaroop ◽  
Pradeep Kumar Jain ◽  
...  

Abstract Genetic diversity and structure analysis using molecular markers is necessary for efficient utilization and sustainable management of gladiolus germplasm. Genetic analysis of gladiolus germplasm using SSR markers is largely missing due to scarce genomic information. In the present investigation, we report 66.66% cross transferability of Gladiolus palustris SSRs whereas 48% of Iris EST-SSRs were cross transferable across the gladiolus genotypes used in the study. A total of 17 highly polymorphic SSRs revealed a total 58 polymorphic loci ranging from two to six in each locus with an average of 3.41 alleles per marker. PIC values ranged from 0.11 to 0.71 with an average value of 0.48. Four SSRs were selectively neutral based on Ewens-Watterson test. Analysis of genetic structure of 84 gladiolus genotypes divided whole germplasm into two subpopulations. 35 genotypes were assigned to subpopulation 1 whereas 37 to subpopulation 2 and rest of the genotypes recorded as admixture. Analysis of molecular variance indicated maximum variance (53.59%) among individuals within subpopulations whereas 36.55% of variation observed among individuals within total population. Least variation (9.86%) was noticed between two subpopulations. Moderate (FST = 0.10) genetic differentiation of two subpopulations was observed. Grouping pattern of population structure was consistent with UPGMA dendrogram based on simple matching dissimilarity coefficient (ranged from 01.6 to 0.89) and PCoA. Genetic relationships assessed among the genotypes of respective clusters assist the breeders in selecting desirable parents for crossing. SSR markers from present study can be utilized for cultivar identification, conservation and sustainable utilization of gladiolus genotypes for crop improvement.


2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 1083-1092
Author(s):  
S Goitom ◽  
M.G. Gicheha ◽  
F.K. Njonge ◽  
N Kiplangat

Indigenous cattle play a vital role in subsistence and livelihood of pastoral producers in Eritrea. In order to optimally utilize and conserve these valuable indigenous cattle genetic resources, the need to carry out an inventory of their genetic diversity was recognized. This study assessed the genetic variability, population structure and admixture of the indigenous cattle populations (ICPs) of Eritrea using a genotype by sequencing (GBS) approach. The authors genotyped 188 animals, which were sampled from 27 cattle populations in three diverse agro-ecological zones (western lowlands, highlands and eastern lowlands). The genome-wide analysis results from this study revealed genetic diversity, population structure and admixture among the ICPs. Averages of the minor allele frequency (AF), observed heterozygosity (HO), expected heterozygosity (HE), and inbreeding coefficient (FIS) were 0.157, 0.255, 0.218, and -0.089, respectively. Nei’s genetic distance (Ds) between populations ranged from 0.24 to 0.27. Mean population differentiation (FST) ranged from 0.01 to 0.30. Analysis of molecular variance revealed high genetic variation between the populations. Principal component analysis and the distance-based unweighted pair group method and arithmetic mean analyses revealed weak substructure among the populations, separating them into three genetic clusters. However, multi-locus clustering had the lowest cross-validation error when two genetically distinct groups were modelled. This information about genetic diversity and population structure of Eritrean ICPs provided a basis for establishing their conservation and genetic improvement programmes. Keywords: genetic variability, molecular characterization, population differentiation


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0247586
Author(s):  
Christine E. Edwards ◽  
Brooke C. Tessier ◽  
Joel F. Swift ◽  
Burgund Bassüner ◽  
Alexander G. Linan ◽  
...  

Understanding genetic diversity and structure in a rare species is critical for prioritizing both in situ and ex situ conservation efforts. One such rare species is Physaria filiformis (Brassicaceae), a threatened, winter annual plant species. The species has a naturally fragmented distribution, occupying three different soil types spread across four disjunct geographical locations in Missouri and Arkansas. The goals of this study were to understand: (1) whether factors associated with fragmentation and small population size (i.e., inbreeding, genetic drift or genetic bottlenecks) have reduced levels of genetic diversity, (2) how genetic variation is structured and which factors have influenced genetic structure, and (3) how much extant genetic variation of P. filiformis is currently publicly protected and the implications for the development of conservation strategies to protect its genetic diversity. Using 16 microsatellite markers, we genotyped individuals from 20 populations of P. filiformis from across its geographical range and one population of Physaria gracilis for comparison and analyzed genetic diversity and structure. Populations of P. filiformis showed comparable levels of genetic diversity to its congener, except a single population in northwest Arkansas showed evidence of a genetic bottleneck and two populations in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas showed lower genetic variation, consistent with genetic drift. Populations showed isolation by distance, indicating that migration is geographically limited, and analyses of genetic structure grouped individuals into seven geographically structured genetic clusters, with geographic location/spatial separation showing a strong influence on genetic structure. At least one population is protected for all genetic clusters except one in north-central Arkansas, which should therefore be prioritized for protection. Populations in the Ouachita Mountains were genetically divergent from the rest of P. filiformis; future morphological analyses are needed to identify whether it merits recognition as a new, extremely rare species.


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