Genetic diversity and genetic structure of the Betula platyphylla populations on the eastern side of the Qingzang Plateau

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2021.0354

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims The mountainous region on the east side of the Qingzang Plateau is a biodiversity hotspot and a refuge for many plants during the ice age. The unique topography allows geographic isolation to play an important role in shaping population genetic patterns. The white birch (Betula platyphylla) population located on the eastern side of the Qingzang Plateau shows a fragmented distribution, which is isolated by valleys, mountains, and rivers, and the genetic pattern is still unclear.

Methods We used 11 pairs of nuclear microsatellite molecular markers to analyze the genetic diversity and structure of 13 birch populations located in the eastern mountainous area of the Qingzang Plateau.

Important findings A total of 114 alleles were detected in 412 individuals, and we found a high level of overall genetic diversity (expected heterozygosity (H_E) = 0.579; observed heterozygosity (H_O) = 0.555), a medium level of genetic differentiation (genetic differentiation coefficient (F_st) = 0.127), and a large pairwise genetic distance between groups (F_st= 0.017-0.319). The genetic distance was significantly positively correlated with geographic distance. The cluster analysis divides all individuals into two groups, bounded by the Yalong River Canyon. The population on the west side has lower genetic diversity and greater genetic differentiation than the population on the east side. This study shows that the geographic isolation caused by the unique topography on the eastern side of the Qingzang Plateau has profoundly affected the genetic diversity and genetic structure of white birch. The marginal populations located in the Yunnan area have already faced the risk of reduced genetic diversity and should be given priority protection.

Key words: Betula platyphylla, genetic diversity, genetic pattern, geographic isolation

CHEN Tian-Yi, LOU An-Ru. Genetic diversity and genetic structure of the Betula platyphylla populations on the eastern side of the Qingzang Plateau[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2022, 46(5): 561-568.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2021.0354

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2022/V46/I5/561

Figures/Tables 5

References 57

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编号 No.	采样地点 Sampling location	种群 Population	采样数 n	纬度 Latitude (° N)	经度 Longitude (° E)	海拔 Altitude (m)
1	青海省大通县宝库林场 Baoku Forestry Centre, Datong County, Qinghai Province	DA	33	37.14	101.56	2 714
2	青海省湟源县药水河畔 The riverside of Yaoshui River, Huangyuan County, Qinghai Province	YS	33	36.56	101.21	2 856
3	甘肃省徽县杂木林中 Miscellaneous wood forest in Hui County, Gansu Province	HX	29	34.08	105.73	1 518
4	四川省九寨沟县大录乡 Dalu Township, Jiuzhaigou County, Sichuan Province	DL	31	33.57	103.67	2 600
5	四川省平武县王坝楚 Wangbachu, Pingwu County, Sichuan Province	WB	35	32.74	104.32	2 130
6	四川省马尔康县城西 West of Barkam County, Sichuan Province	MK	29	31.90	102.22	2 614
7	四川省红原县刷经寺镇 Shuajingsi Town, Hongyuan County, Sichuan Province	SJ	32	32.02	102.61	3 309
8	四川省巴塘县G318路旁 G318 roudside, Batang County, Sichuan Province	BT	34	30.30	99.39	3 521
9	四川省康定县路旁山坡 Roadside slopes, Kangding County, Sichuan Province	KD	33	30.03	101.96	2 703
10	四川省泸定县杂木林中 Miscellaneous wood forest in Luding County, Sichuan Province	LD	34	29.80	102.26	2 100
11	云南省德钦县雾浓顶 Wunongding, Dêqên County, Yunnan Province	DN	29	28.45	98.91	3 585
12	云南省香格里拉市红坡村 Hongpo Village, Xamgyiʹnyilha City, Yunnan Province	HP	32	27.81	99.82	3 439
13	云南省玉龙县路旁山坡 Roadside slopes, Yulong County, Yunnan Province	YL	28	27.20	100.28	3 275

编号 No.	采样地点 Sampling location	种群 Population	采样数 n	纬度 Latitude (° N)	经度 Longitude (° E)	海拔 Altitude (m)
1	青海省大通县宝库林场 Baoku Forestry Centre, Datong County, Qinghai Province	DA	33	37.14	101.56	2 714
2	青海省湟源县药水河畔 The riverside of Yaoshui River, Huangyuan County, Qinghai Province	YS	33	36.56	101.21	2 856
3	甘肃省徽县杂木林中 Miscellaneous wood forest in Hui County, Gansu Province	HX	29	34.08	105.73	1 518
4	四川省九寨沟县大录乡 Dalu Township, Jiuzhaigou County, Sichuan Province	DL	31	33.57	103.67	2 600
5	四川省平武县王坝楚 Wangbachu, Pingwu County, Sichuan Province	WB	35	32.74	104.32	2 130
6	四川省马尔康县城西 West of Barkam County, Sichuan Province	MK	29	31.90	102.22	2 614
7	四川省红原县刷经寺镇 Shuajingsi Town, Hongyuan County, Sichuan Province	SJ	32	32.02	102.61	3 309
8	四川省巴塘县G318路旁 G318 roudside, Batang County, Sichuan Province	BT	34	30.30	99.39	3 521
9	四川省康定县路旁山坡 Roadside slopes, Kangding County, Sichuan Province	KD	33	30.03	101.96	2 703
10	四川省泸定县杂木林中 Miscellaneous wood forest in Luding County, Sichuan Province	LD	34	29.80	102.26	2 100
11	云南省德钦县雾浓顶 Wunongding, Dêqên County, Yunnan Province	DN	29	28.45	98.91	3 585
12	云南省香格里拉市红坡村 Hongpo Village, Xamgyiʹnyilha City, Yunnan Province	HP	32	27.81	99.82	3 439
13	云南省玉龙县路旁山坡 Roadside slopes, Yulong County, Yunnan Province	YL	28	27.20	100.28	3 275

种群 Population	等位基因数 A_O	观察杂合度 H_O	期望杂合度 H_E	等位基因丰富度 A_r	特有等位基因丰富度 P_A	近交系数 F_is
DA	74	0.691	0.703	6.26	0.43	0.032
YS	67	0.636	0.699	5.76	0.15	0.105^*
HX	67	0.674	0.687	5.90	0.19	0.036
DL	72	0.657	0.693	6.12	0.32	0.068^*
WB	59	0.548	0.613	5.06	0.00	0.120^*
MK	65	0.621	0.662	5.67	0.10	0.080^*
SJ	65	0.676	0.674	5.59	0.08	0.013
BT	49	0.455	0.478	4.12	0.07	0.063
KD	62	0.612	0.588	5.23	0.42	-0.025
LD	47	0.591	0.575	4.13	0.01	-0.013
DN	33	0.334	0.324	2.91	0.00	-0.012
HP	43	0.364	0.403	3.67	0.21	0.114^*
YL	36	0.361	0.430	3.20	0.00	0.178^*
平均值 Mean	57	0.555	0.579	4.89	0.15	-

种群 Population	等位基因数 A_O	观察杂合度 H_O	期望杂合度 H_E	等位基因丰富度 A_r	特有等位基因丰富度 P_A	近交系数 F_is
DA	74	0.691	0.703	6.26	0.43	0.032
YS	67	0.636	0.699	5.76	0.15	0.105^*
HX	67	0.674	0.687	5.90	0.19	0.036
DL	72	0.657	0.693	6.12	0.32	0.068^*
WB	59	0.548	0.613	5.06	0.00	0.120^*
MK	65	0.621	0.662	5.67	0.10	0.080^*
SJ	65	0.676	0.674	5.59	0.08	0.013
BT	49	0.455	0.478	4.12	0.07	0.063
KD	62	0.612	0.588	5.23	0.42	-0.025
LD	47	0.591	0.575	4.13	0.01	-0.013
DN	33	0.334	0.324	2.91	0.00	-0.012
HP	43	0.364	0.403	3.67	0.21	0.114^*
YL	36	0.361	0.430	3.20	0.00	0.178^*
平均值 Mean	57	0.555	0.579	4.89	0.15	-

	DA	YS	HX	DL	WB	MK	SJ	BT	KD	LD	DN	HP	YL
DA	-
YS	0.026	-
HX	0.017	0.039	-
DL	0.017	0.028	0.017	-
WB	0.058	0.058	0.079	0.036	-
MK	0.054	0.073	0.052	0.026	0.058	-
SJ	0.066	0.077	0.079	0.044	0.042	0.018	-
BT	0.203	0.216	0.194	0.150	0.192	0.105	0.100	-
KD	0.087	0.129	0.103	0.073	0.093	0.036	0.080	0.171	-
LD	0.091	0.118	0.088	0.067	0.091	0.019	0.082	0.167	0.020	-
DN	0.291	0.319	0.295	0.254	0.283	0.193	0.187	0.091	0.229	0.247	-
HP	0.250	0.274	0.255	0.202	0.229	0.141	0.138	0.050	0.193	0.196	0.068	-
YL	0.216	0.249	0.227	0.184	0.204	0.124	0.120	0.087	0.158	0.175	0.076	0.063	-