GENETIC DIVERSITY IN FRAGMENTED POPULATIONS OF BERCHEMIELLA WILSONII VAR. PUBIPETIOLATA, AN ENDANGERED PLANT ENDEMIC TO EASTERN CHINA

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2006.0022

Abstract

Abstract:

Berchemiella wilsonii var. pubipetiolata (Rhamnaceae) is an endangered tree species with a narrow distribution in fragmented habitat patches in Tianmu Mountain, Zhejiang Province and Dabie Mountain, Anhui Province, east of China. The habitat has been severely disturbed because of agricultural practices by local residents. Over the past several decades, there has been a decrease in the population number and size. Information on genetic variation and structure is critical for developing successful conservation strategies for this species. The amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) were used to evaluate the genetic diversity and population structure of four extant populations of B. wilsonii var. pubipetiolata. A total of 122 unambiguous bands were generated using eight primer combinations of which 45 (36.9%) were polymorphic across all individuals. In comparison with other endangered woody plants, B. wilsonii var. pubipetiolata has similar genetic diversity at the population level (P_p=26.4%, H_ep=0.162 8) and species level (P_s=36.9%, H_es=0.202 4). A relatively high value of F_ST (0.193 9) indicated significant genetic differentiation among populations. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) further revealed that 24.88% of the AFLP variation resided between geographic domes (Zhejiang and Anhui Province), 14.71% among populations and 60.42% within populations. The results of this study suggest that habitat fragmentation and reduction of population size caused by anthropogenic activities have caused genetic erosion and population differentiation in B. wilsonii var. pubipetiolata, which poses a potential threat to the long-term survivability of this species. Genetic information obtained in the present study provides useful baseline data for formulating conservation strategies. Conservation management should include both in situ conservation and ex situ conservation programs and need to be well designed. An ex situ conservation strategy for extensive sampling of all extant populations to maximize genomic representation of the species is recommended.

Key words: Berchemiella wilsonii var. pubipetiolata, Habitat fragmentation, AFLP, Conservation genetics, Endangered species

XU Feng-Hua, KANG Ming, HUANG Hong-Wen, JIANG Ming-Xi. GENETIC DIVERSITY IN FRAGMENTED POPULATIONS OF BERCHEMIELLA WILSONII VAR. PUBIPETIOLATA, AN ENDANGERED PLANT ENDEMIC TO EASTERN CHINA[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2006, 30(1): 157-164.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2006.0022

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2006/V30/I1/157

Figures/Tables 5

References 41

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居群 Population	取样数(N) No. of sampling	多态位点百分率(P) Polymorphism(%)	基因多样度(H_e) Gene diversity	居群特有带 Population specific bands
湍口Tuankou	23	23.8	0.140 5 (0.015 12)	0
马啸Maxiao	13	26.2	0.171 4 (0.014 87)	0
马家河Majiahe	31	29.5	0.166 8 (0.015 38)	2
万佛山Wanfoshan	22	26.2	0.172 4 (0.014 66)	1
居群平均Population	22.25	26.4	0.162 8 (0.007 52)
物种水平Species	89	36.9	0.202 4

居群 Population	取样数(N) No. of sampling	多态位点百分率(P) Polymorphism(%)	基因多样度(H_e) Gene diversity	居群特有带 Population specific bands
湍口Tuankou	23	23.8	0.140 5 (0.015 12)	0
马啸Maxiao	13	26.2	0.171 4 (0.014 87)	0
马家河Majiahe	31	29.5	0.166 8 (0.015 38)	2
万佛山Wanfoshan	22	26.2	0.172 4 (0.014 66)	1
居群平均Population	22.25	26.4	0.162 8 (0.007 52)
物种水平Species	89	36.9	0.202 4

引物组合 Primer combination	引物序列 Primer sequence (5'-3')	总位点数 Total bands	多态位点数 Polymorphic bands	多态位点百分率 Polymorphism(%)
EAAC/MCGT	GACTGCGTACCAATTCAAC	16	8	50.0
	GATGAGTCCTGAGTAACGT
EACT/MCAT	GACTGCGTACCAATTCACT	15	7	46.7
	GATGAGTCCTGAGTAACAT
EATC/MCAA	GACTGCGTACCAATTCATC	13	3	23.1
	GATGAGTCCTGAGTAACAA
EAAG/MCGA	GACTGCGTACCAATTCAAG	20	9	45.0
	GATGAGTCCTGAGTAACGA
EAAG/MCGT	GACTGCGTACCAATTCAAG	17	4	23.5
	GATGAGTCCTGAGTAACGT
EAAG/MCAT	GACTGCGTACCAATTCAAG	15	6	40.0
	GATGAGTCCTGAGTAACAT
EACA/MCAA	GACTGCGTACCAATTCACA	12	7	58.3
	GATGAGTCCTGAGTAACAA
EACA/MCAT	GACTGCGTACCAATTCACA	14	1	7.1
	GATGAGTCCTGAGTAACAT
总计Total		122	45	36.9

引物组合 Primer combination	引物序列 Primer sequence (5'-3')	总位点数 Total bands	多态位点数 Polymorphic bands	多态位点百分率 Polymorphism(%)
EAAC/MCGT	GACTGCGTACCAATTCAAC	16	8	50.0
	GATGAGTCCTGAGTAACGT
EACT/MCAT	GACTGCGTACCAATTCACT	15	7	46.7
	GATGAGTCCTGAGTAACAT
EATC/MCAA	GACTGCGTACCAATTCATC	13	3	23.1
	GATGAGTCCTGAGTAACAA
EAAG/MCGA	GACTGCGTACCAATTCAAG	20	9	45.0
	GATGAGTCCTGAGTAACGA
EAAG/MCGT	GACTGCGTACCAATTCAAG	17	4	23.5
	GATGAGTCCTGAGTAACGT
EAAG/MCAT	GACTGCGTACCAATTCAAG	15	6	40.0
	GATGAGTCCTGAGTAACAT
EACA/MCAA	GACTGCGTACCAATTCACA	12	7	58.3
	GATGAGTCCTGAGTAACAA
EACA/MCAT	GACTGCGTACCAATTCACA	14	1	7.1
	GATGAGTCCTGAGTAACAT
总计Total		122	45	36.9

居群 Population	湍口 Tuankou	马啸 Maxiao	马家河 Majiahe	万佛山 Wanfoshan
湍口Tuankou	-	1.982	0.588	0.643
马啸Maxiao	0.112 0	-	1.341	0.912
马家河Majiehe	0.298 5	0.157 1	-	3.247
万佛山Wanfoshan	0.280 0	0.215 1	0.071 5	-