Maqola

Genetic diversity and structure of Rhododendron meddianum, a plant species with extremely small populations

Xiujiao ZhangCollege of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, Jiangsu, ChinaXiongfang LiuResearch Institute of Resources Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, 650224, Yunnan, ChinaDetuan LiuYunnan Key Laboratory for Integrative Conservation of Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, ChinaYurong CaoCollege of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, Jiangsu, ChinaZhenghong LiResearch Institute of Resources Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, 650224, Yunnan, ChinaYongpeng MaYunnan Key Laboratory for Integrative Conservation of Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, ChinaHong MaResearch Institute of Resources Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, 650224, Yunnan, China

2021en

ABI

Annotatsiya

Rhododendron meddianum is a critically endangered species with important ornamental value and is also a plant species with extremely small populations. In this study, we used double digest restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD) technology to assess the genetic diversity, genetic structure and demographic history of the three extant populations of R. meddianum. Analysis of SNPs indicated that R. meddianum populations have a high genetic diversity (π = 0.0772 ± 0.0024, HE = 0.0742 ± 0.002). Both FST values (0.1582–0.2388) and AMOVA showed a moderate genetic differentiation among the R. meddianum populations. Meanwhile, STRUCTURE, PCoA and NJ trees indicated that the R. meddianum samples were clustered into three distinct genetic groups. Using the stairway plot, we found that R. meddianum underwent a population bottleneck about 70,000 years ago. Furthermore, demographic models of R. meddianum and its relative, Rhododendron cyanocarpum, revealed that these species diverged about 3.05 (2.21–5.03) million years ago. This divergence may have been caused by environmental changes that occurred after the late Pliocene, e.g., the Asian winter monsoon intensified, leading to a drier climate. Based on these findings, we recommend that R. meddianum be conserved through in situ, ex situ approaches and that its seeds be collected for germplasm.

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Identifikatorlar

DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2021.05.005

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