scholarly journals POPULATION GENETICS OF ALLOZYME VARIATION IN NEUROSPORA INTERMEDIA

Genetics ◽  
1975 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 785-805
Author(s):  
P T Spieth

ABSTRACT Electrophoretically detectable variation in the fungus Neurospora intermedia has been surveyed among isolates from natural populations in Malaya, Papua, Australia and Florida. The principal result is a pattern of genetic variation within and between populations that is qualitatively no different than the well documented patterns for Drosophila and humans. In particular, there is a high level of genetic variation, the majority of which occurs at the level of local populations. Evidence is presented which argues that N. intermedia has a population structure analogous to that of an annual vascular plant with a high level of vegetative reproduction. Sexual reproduction appears to be a regular feature in the biology of the species. Substantial heterokaryon function seems unlikely in natural populations of N. intermedia. Theoretical considerations concerning the mechanisms underlying the observed pattern of variation most likely should be consistent with haploid selection theory. The implications of this constraint upon the theory are discussed in detail, leading to the presentation of a model based upon the concept of environmental heterogeneity. The essence of the model, which is equally applicable to haploid and diploid situations, is a shifting distribution of multiple adaptive niches among local populations such that a given population has a small net selective pressure in favor of one allele or another, depending upon its particular distribution of niches. Gene flow among neighboring populations with differing net selective pressures is postulated as the principal factor underlying intrapopulational allozyme variation.

1985 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 224-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. R. Rhomberg ◽  
S. Joseph ◽  
R. S. Singh

Patterns of geographic and seasonal genetic variation were assessed in natural populations of cyclically parthenogenetic rose aphids Macrosiphum rosae (L.). Nine populations were studied for a red–green colour morph and 30 allozyme loci (20 coding for enzymes and 10 for abundant proteins). Genetic variation was found at 5 of 20 enzyme loci (20%); all 10 abundant proteins proved monomorphic. The average heterozygosity was 4.3%. At some polymorphic loci genotypic frequencies showed significant deviations from Hardy–Weinberg proportions. Six local populations from Hamilton, Ontario, were studied for seasonal variation at the colour locus and at two polymorphic esterase loci (Est-2 and Est-4). All three loci showed large changes in genotypic frequencies over the season during the asexual cycle, but only for Est-4 were changes consistent among populations. This locus undergoes a regular seasonal cycle, the directional changes during the asexual phase presumably being balanced by changes during the sexual phase. The frequencies of three-locus genotypes within each locality fluctuated dramatically over the course of a season, reflecting the domination of local infestations by a few particularly successful clones. We speculate that because of such clonal competition followed by extensive migration, much of the selectively neutral variation is purged from aphid populations. The remaining polymorphic loci, which are mostly di- or tri-allelic, are subject to balancing natural selection at the gene or at closely linked loci. The Est-4 in rose aphids is an example of such a selectively maintained polymorphism.Key words: aphids, allozyme variation, seasonal variation, parthenogenesis, clonal selection, population structure.


2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (8) ◽  
pp. 805-813 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannele Lindqvist-Kreuze ◽  
Hilkka Koponen ◽  
Jari P.T Valkonen

The levels of genotypic and genetic variation were estimated in six natural populations of arctic bramble (Rubus arcticus L. subsp. arcticus) in Finland. Using three primer combinations, a total of 117 amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) were found. The results were highly reproducible and allowed identification of 78 genets among the 122 plants of arctic bramble studied. Genotypic variation measured as Simpson index (D) was high in all populations, ranging from 0.72 to 0.94. Also, the level of genetic variation measured as Shannon index was relatively high in all populations, ranging from 0.19 to 0.32 (average 0.26). The high levels of genetic diversity indicate that sexual reproduction has played a significant role in these populations. The hierarchical analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) partitioned 48% of the genetic variation among populations, suggesting a high level of population differentiation and a low level of interpopulation gene flow. Genetic diversity among ten currently grown cultivars of arctic bramble and hybrid arctic bramble (R. arcticus subsp. arcticus × R. arcticus subsp. stellatus) was large, and the subspecies were clearly distinguished from each other based on the AFLP marker data.Key words: AFLP, AMOVA, population, natural habitat, Rubus arcticus subsp. arcticus, Rubus arcticus subsp. stellatus.


Genetics ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 152 (4) ◽  
pp. 1605-1614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael E Zwick ◽  
Jennifer L Salstrom ◽  
Charles H Langley

Abstract Genetic variation in nondisjunction frequency among X chromosomes from two Drosophila melanogaster natural populations is examined in a sensitized assay. A high level of genetic variation is observed (a range of 0.006-0.241). Two naturally occurring variants at the nod locus, a chromokinesin required for proper achiasmate chromosome segregation, are significantly associated with an increased frequency of nondisjunction. Both of these polymorphisms are found at intermediate frequency in widely distributed natural populations. To account for these observations, we propose a general model incorporating unique opportunities for meiotic drive during female meiosis. The oötid competition model can account for both high mean rates of female-specific nondisjunction in Drosophila and humans as well as the standing genetic variation in this critical fitness character in natural populations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rong Huang ◽  
Yu Wang ◽  
Kuan Li ◽  
Ying-Qiang Wang

Abstract Background There has always been controversy over whether clonal plants have lower genetic diversity than plants that reproduce sexually. These conflicts could be attributed to the fact that few studies have taken into account the mating system of sexually reproducing plants and their phylogenetic distance. Moreover, most clonal plants in these previous studies regularly produce sexual progeny. Here, we describe a study examining the levels of genetic diversity and differentiation within and between local populations of fully clonal Zingiber zerumbet at a microgeographical scale and compare the results with data for the closely related selfing Z. corallinum and outcrossing Z. nudicarpum. Such studies could disentangle the phylogenetic and sexually reproducing effect on genetic variation of clonal plants, and thus contribute to an improved understanding in the clonally reproducing effects on genetic diversity and population structure. Results The results revealed that the level of local population genetic diversity of clonal Z. zerumbet was comparable to that of outcrossing Z. nudicarpum and significantly higher than that of selfing Z. corallinum. However, the level of microgeographic genetic diversity of clonal Z. zerumbet is comparable to that of selfing Z. corallinum and even slightly higher than that of outcrossing Z. nudicarpum. The genetic differentiation among local populations of clonal Z. zerumbet was significantly lower than that of selfing Z. corallinum, but higher than that of outcrossing Z. nudicarpum. A stronger spatial genetic structure appeared within local populations of Z. zerumbet compared with selfing Z. corallinum and outcrossing Z. nudicarpum. Conclusions Our study shows that fully clonal plants are able not only to maintain a high level of within-population genetic diversity like outcrossing plants, but can also maintain a high level of microgeographic genetic diversity like selfing plant species, probably due to the accumulation of somatic mutations and absence of a capacity for sexual reproduction. We suggest that conservation strategies for the genetic diversity of clonal and selfing plant species should be focused on the protection of all habitat types, especially fragments within ecosystems, while maintenance of large populations is a key to enhance the genetic diversity of outcrossing species.


Genetics ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 343-384
Author(s):  
Francisco J Ayala ◽  
Martin L Tracey ◽  
Lorraine G Barr ◽  
John F McDonald ◽  
Santiago Pérez-Salas

ABSTRACT We have studied genetic variation at 30-32 loci coding for enzymes in natural populations of five species of Drosophila. The average proportion of heterozygous loci per individual is 17.7 ± 0.4%. The average proportion of polymorphic loci per population is 69.2 ± 2.6% or 49.8 ± 2.2%, depending on what criterion of polymorphism is used. The following generalizations are advanced: (1) The amount of genetic polymorphism varies considerably from locus to locus. (2) At a given locus, populations of the same species are very similar in the amount and pattern of genetic variation. (3) However, at some loci large differences sometimes occur between local populations of the same species. (4) The amount of variation at a given locus is approximately the same in all five species. (5) When different species are compared, the pattern of the variation is either essentially identical or totally different at a majority of loci. We have tested the hypothesis that protein polymorphisms are selectively neutral by examining four predictions derived from the hypothesis. Our results are at variance with every one of the predictions. We have measured the amount of genetic differentiation, D, between taxa of various degrees of evolutionary divergence. The average value of D is 0.033 for local populations, 0.228 for subspecies, 0.226 for semispecies, 0.538 for sibling species, and 1.214 for morphologically distinguishable species. Our results indicate that a substantial degree of genetic differentiation (22.8 allelic substitutions for every 100 loci) occurs between allopatric populations that have diverged to the point where they might become different species if they were to become sympatric. However, very little additional genetic change is required for the development of complete reproductive isolation. After the speciation process is completed, species continue to diverge genetically from each other.


Genetics ◽  
1972 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-112
Author(s):  
Rollin C Richmond

ABSTRACT The semispecies composing the superspecies, Drosophila paulistorum, have been analyzed for genetic variation at 17 enzyme loci. On the average a population of D. paulistorum is polymorphic for 55–67% of its loci and an average individual is heterozygous at 21% of its loci. The pattern of genetic variability found supports the hypothesis that allozyme variation is maintained in natural populations by some form of balancing selection. Evidence is presented which supports the hypothesis that glucose-metabolizing enzymes are less genetically variable than non-glucose-metabolizing enzymes. The known genetic relationships between the semispecies of D. paulistorum are discussed in the light of the frequencies of alleles at allozyme loci.


Weed Science ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 378-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jodie S. Holt

Genetic variation of morphological and phenological characters of yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentusL.) from California was investigated and compared with isozyme data from the same populations. The importance of collection location, individual genotype, and isozyme genotype to phenotypic characteristics was evaluated. Analyses were conducted on 20 individuals collected from each of 10 widely separated populations in California. Replicate plants were started by tubers, grown in pots buried outdoors, and measured during the period from planting through flowering. Results showed that yellow nutsedge is variable across its range in California in all measured traits, including days to sprouting and flowering, height, rachis number and length, aboveground biomass, tuber weight, number of rays, ray length, number of spikelets per ray, as well as spikelet length and width. Population (collection location) was a larger variance component than genotype (individuals over all locations). As found in isozyme analysis, relatively more variation was found among than within populations, typical of clonally reproducing species. Overall, more variation was found in quantitative traits than in isozymes. The level of variation, based on coefficients of variation for each character and population, was similar within populations and not clearly related to cropping history or climate at each site. The two most common isozyme genotypes in the collection differed in four characters: date of emergence, weight of 10 tubers, rachis number, and mean ray length, which may represent different adaptive responses to cultural practices. These results indicate that isozymes do not reflect the high level of genetic and adaptive diversity of yellow nutsedge. Factors that are likely to determine the patterns of variation in this species include breeding system (vegetative reproduction), founder effects, polyploidy, and homogeneity of the agricultural environmental.


Genetics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 149 (3) ◽  
pp. 1487-1493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew G Clark ◽  
David J Begun

Abstract Differential success of sperm is likely to be an important component of fitness. Extensive variation among male genotypes in competitive success of sperm in multiply mated females has been documented for Drosophila melanogaster. However, virtually all previous studies considered the female to be a passive vessel. Nevertheless, under certain conditions female fitness could be determined by her role in mediating use of sperm from multiple males. Here we ask whether females differ among genotypes in their tendency to exhibit last-male precedence. Competition of sperm from two tester male genotypes (bwD and B3-09, a third-chromosome isogenic line from Beltsville, MD) was quantified by doubly mating female lines that had been rendered homozygous for X, second, or third chromosomes isolated from natural populations. The composite sperm displacement parameter, P2′, was highly heterogeneous among lines, whether or not viability effects were compensated, implying the presence of polymorphic genes affecting access of sperm to eggs. Genetic variation of this type is completely neutral in the absence of pleiotropy or interaction between variation in the two sexes.


1995 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 1027 ◽  
Author(s):  
FP Smith ◽  
PS Cocks ◽  
MA Ewing

Cluster clover is a widely distributed and ecologically successful introduced legume in southern Australia. In an attempt to understand the role of genetic variation in this success, morphological and physiological traits were measured in 94 accessions from southern Australia and 6 from the Mediterranean basin. Flowering time ranged from 105 to 185 days after sowing, but was not strongly correlated with annual rainfall or length of growing season at the site of collection. Variation in other traits partitioned the populations into two morphs which, apart from flowering time and leaf marker, were largely homogeneous. The morphs differed significantly in floret number per inflorescence (22 v. 32-37) and seed mass (379 8g v. 523 8g), had different growth habits and strong within-morph associations between leaf markers and stipule and petal coloration. The morphs differed in their distributions within southern Australia and the pattern of distribution was related to summer maximum temperatures, winter minimum temperatures and spring rainfall. These results demonstrate that genetic variation has been important to the success of cluster clover and suggests that the variation is organized. The pattern of variation observed and its relationship to ecogeography is consistent with findings for other highly inbreeding species. A map of the species distribution in Western Australia is presented.


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