Genetic structure of Glycine canescens,a perennial relative of soybean

Summary Allozyme variation as detected by starch gel electrophoresis was used to assess the extent and spatial organization of genetic variation across the entire range of Glycine canescens sensu lato. Eleven enzyme systems were assayed in 116 accessions of this taxon and 102 alleles were detected at a total of 31 loci. Eighty-one percent of loci were polymorphic. Most of this variation occurred between and very little within accessions. Three major groupings were detected. These groupings (groups 1, 2, and 3) also differed with respect to mean seed size and their geographic distribution. A further ten accessions stood out from these distinct groups. These accessions were most closely related to group 3 but were variable among themselves. In general, they were collected from highly dissected terrain, often in the remote interior of the continent. A final group of 18 problematic accessions (group X), originally tentatively identified as G. canescens on morphological grounds, was shown to be isozymically distinct from this species and was reclassified as one form of the polytypic species G. clandestina.     

A taxonomic study of the Rana narina complex, with description of three new species (Amphibia: Ranidae)

A morphometric and electrophoretic survey was conducted to examine taxonomic relationships among eight population samples of the Rana narina complex from the Ryukyu Archipelago of Japan and Taiwan. Five discrete morphotypes are differentiated, and these showed considerable genetic differentiation from each other. From the available information, each of the five morphotypes is judged to represent a species, and three are described as new. Rana utsunomiyaorum sp. nov. and R. supranarina sp. nov. are sympatric in Ishigakijima and Iriomotejima islands of the Yaeyama Group, and differ from the other members by having a shorter hindlimb. Rana utsunomiyaorum is the smallest in the complex, while R. supranarina is the largest. Rana amamiensis sp. nov . occurs on Amamioshima and Tokunoshima islands of the Amami Group and, like R. narina from Okinawajima of the Okinawa Group, has a long hindlimb; it differs from the latter species by having a larger body and relatively small tympanum. These two species differ from R. swinhoana from Taiwan by having a narrower disk on the third finger. A key to known species of the complex is given. Further, syslematics of the R. narina complex within Rana , body size in the two sympatric species, and sexual dimorphism found in this complex are discussed.     

Effect of allozyme heterozygosity on basal and induced levels of heat shock protein (Hsp70), in juvenile Concholepas concholepas (Mollusca)

Organisms cope physiologically with extreme temperature by producing heat shock proteins (HSPs). Expression of Hsp70 enhances thermal tolerance and represents a key strategy for ectotherms to tolerate elevated temperature in nature. Synthesis of these proteins, together with other physiological responses to elevated temperatures, increases energy demands. A positive association between multiple and single locus heterozygosity (MLH and SLH, respectively) and individual fitness has been widely demonstrated. In molluscs, MLH can decrease routine metabolic rates and improve energetic status. Juvenile Concholepas concholepas live in the intertidal zone and are constantly exposed to temperature fluctuations. Thus, these young individuals are exposed both to thermal risks and the large metabolic costs required to cope with thermal stress. We evaluated the effects of allozyme MLH and SLH on basal (control animals) and induced (stressed animals) levels of the Hsp70 in juveniles C. concholepas. Juveniles (n = 400) were acclimated at 16 °C for 2 weeks; then 100 animals were exposed to 24 °C (stress) and 100 were kept at 16 °C (control) for 2 and 7 days. The variability of 20 loci was analyzed by starch gel electrophoresis. For SLH effects we used 7 polymorphic loci. We quantified expression of Hsp70 by Western blot analyses. Hsp70 expression increased markedly (~ 90%) with temperature. We found a positive association between MLH and basal and induced levels of Hsp70 in the 2-day exposure experiment. Regardless of temperature, Hsp70 levels increased with MLH (r² = 0.7 and 0.9, for basal and induced levels, respectively) reaching maximal levels in juveniles with intermediate and high MLH levels (2 and 3 loci), and decreasing slightly (but not significantly) in juveniles with highest MLH (≥ 4 heterozygous loci). However, after 7 days of exposure to thermal stress, less heterozygous juveniles attained the same levels of Hsp70 than more heterozygous juveniles. Given the faster increment of Hsp70 in C. concholepas juveniles with intermediate-high levels of MLH, these individuals could be less affected by thermal stress in the intertidal zone. We found an association between specific loci genotype and higher Hsp70 levels (basal or induced). In comparison to homozygous juveniles, heterozygous juveniles for several loci showed higher Hsp70. However, these associations were not for the same loci in juveniles exposed to high temperature for 2 and 7 days. This suggests genotypic variation at some allozyme loci could be more important in the period of initial response to high temperature and others can be more important in the response to the chronic temperature stress.     

Genetic diversity and multilocus genetic structure in the relictual endemic herb<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Japonolirion osense</Emphasis> (Petrosaviaceae)

Plant clonality may greatly reduce effective population size and influence management strategies of rare and endangered species. We examined genetic diversity and the extent of clonality in four populations of the monotypic herbaceous perennial Japonolirion osense, which is one of the most rare flowering plants in Japan. Allozyme analysis revealed moderate levels of genetic variation, and the proportion of polymorphic loci (P=66.7%) was higher than the value for species with similar life-history traits. With four polymorphic loci, 19 multilocus genotypes were observed among 433 aerial shoot samples and 10 (52%) were found only in single populations. The proportion of distinguishable genotypes (PD=0.10) and Simpson's index of diversity (D=0.52) also exhibited moderate levels of genotypic diversity compared to other clonal plants, with genotype frequencies at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The distributions of genotypes were often localized and they were mostly found within a radius of 5 m. Spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that shoot samples located 4 m apart were expected to be genetically independent. The results suggest that the spatial extent of genets was relatively narrow and thus the clonality was not extensive.     

广西区西南桦天然居群遗传多样性的研究

 以采自广西区11个西南桦(Betula alnoides)天然居群的种子培育出的幼苗为材料,取其嫩叶开展21种酶系统的水平切片淀粉凝胶电泳实验,运用作者改进的Tris-马来酸提取缓冲液 (含30%PVP 40 000和1%2-巯基乙醇),筛选出AMP(氨基肽酶Aminopeptidase)、FBA(果糖二磷酸酶Fructose-bisphosphate aldolase)、GDH(谷氨酸脱氢酶Glutamate dehydrogenase)、G6PD(6-磷酸葡萄糖脱氢酶Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase)、IDH(异柠檬酸脱氢酶Isocitrate dehydrogenase)、MDH(苹果酸脱氢酶Malate dehydrogenase)、PGD(6-磷酸葡萄糖酸脱氢酶Phosphogluconate dehydrogenase)、PGI(磷酸葡萄糖异构酶Phosphoglucoisomerase)、PGM(磷酸葡萄糖变位酶Phosphoglucomutase)和SKD(莽草酸脱氢酶Shikimate dehydrogenase)等10种酶,获得了清晰且可重复的酶谱。通过谱带遗传分析确定了15个位点,其中有6个单态位点,9个多态位点 (0.95标准),具40个等位基因。在居群水平上,西南桦的多态位点百分数 (P) 为55.2%,平均每个位点的等位基因数 (A) 为2.00,平均预期杂合度 (He) 为0.204。均超过Hamrick (1992)等提出的远交风媒木本植物的平均值(53.0%,184%和0154),表明西南桦的遗传变异水平高。在11个西南桦居群内,实际杂合度 (Ho)均高于预期杂合度,出现杂合子过量,可能存在利于杂合子的自然选择。西南桦遗传多样性与地理位置相关不显著。居群2 (靖西地州)、5 (平果海城)、9 (田林者苗) 包含绝大部分的等位基因,而且具较高的遗传多样性,应加以保护和管理,作为其基因资源就地保存的基地。本研究解决了以西南桦嫩叶为材料进行等位酶分析的关键技术,为进一步开展西南桦乃至桦木属树种的遗传结构和遗传多样性等提供了技术基础;同时掌握了西南桦天然居群的遗传多样性现状,为其有效保护和合理经营以及西南桦的遗传改良提供了理论依据。     

Allozyme diversity and the evolution ofCrepidiastrum (Compositae) on the Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands

The genusCrepidiastrum is distributed in East Asia and includes 7 species. In the Bonin Islands, three species ofCrepidiastrum occur, and all of them are endemic to the islands. For detecting the origin and speciation of these endemic species, electrophoretic studies have been done in three endemic species of the Bonin Islands as well as in the remaining four species ofCrepidiastrum, andYoungia denticulata which is considered to be closely related toCrepidiastrum. A total of 386 individuals were sampled from 14 populations. As a result, 17 loci of 10 enzyme systems were resolved and gene frequencies for each population were calculated. The genetic variability was low in island species, as reported in some oceanic island plants. Four groups were recognized in the dendrogram generated by the UPGMA method. The Bonin endemics were clustered together, suggesting a monophyletic origin.C. ameristophyllum andC. linguaefolium were found to be genetically very similar, and this may suggest recent and rapid speciation within the islands.     

Natural selection of allozyme polymorphisms: a microgeographic climatic differentiation in wild emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccoides)

Summary Allozymic variation in proteins encoded by 48 loci was analyzed electrophoretically in 1984 and 1985 in 137 individual plants of wild emmer wheat, Triticum dicoccoides, from a microsite in Yehudiyya, northeast of the Lake of Galilee, Israel. The test involved two climatic microniches in the open Tabor oak forest (1) sunny between trees and (2) shady under trees' canopies. Significant genetic differentiation at single-, two- and multilocus structures was found between neighboring climatic niches, which were only separated by a few meters. Our results suggest that allozyme polymorphisms in wild emmer wheat are partly adaptive, and differentiate primarily at the multilocus level by climatic factors presumably related to aridity stress.     

Multiple differentiation centres of a non-Mediterranean butterfly species in south-eastern Europe

Aim  The analysis of the phylogeographical structures of many European species reveals the importance of Mediterranean glacial refugia for many thermophilic species, but also underlines the relevance of extra-Mediterranean glacial differentiation centres for a number of temperate species. In this context, phylogeographical analyses of species from south-eastern Europe are highly important for a comprehensive understanding of Europe as a whole.
Location  Romania and Bulgaria.
Methods  We analysed 19 allozyme loci for 615 individuals of the temperate butterfly species Erebia medusa from 28 populations.
Results  These populations had an intermediate genetic diversity, but the Bulgarian populations were significantly more diverse than the ones north of the Danube in Romania. The differentiation among populations was strong, and 52.1% of the genetic variance among populations was distributed between these two countries. The genetic differentiation was considerably stronger in Romania than in Bulgaria, but several sublineages were distinguished within each of these countries.
Main conclusions  The observed genetic structure is so strong that it is most probably the result of glacial differentiation processes in south-eastern Europe and not a post-glacial structure. The strong differentiation into the two groups north and south of the Danube suggests a separating effect by this river valley. The strong differentiation accompanied with genetic impoverishment in Romania suggests the existence of several differentiation centres: at least two small ones on the southern slopes of the southern Carpathians and one in the eastern Carpathian Basin. The considerably weaker differentiation among the Bulgarian samples and their significantly higher genetic diversity imply that gene flow occurred among different regions of Bulgaria during the last ice age.     

Allozyme variation in the diploid (A genome) populations ofScilla scilloides (Hyacinthaceae)

Allozyme variation at eleven loci encoding seven enzyme systems were examined in 20 populations of diploid (genome AA, 2n = 16)Scilla scilloides in China. In comparison with the average species of seed plants studied, populations of this species display a high amount of genetic variation (A = 2.0, P = 58.6%, H_o = 0.172, and H_e = 0.185). Allozyme variation pattern revealed predominant outcrossing within populations and considerable differentiation (F_ST = 0.314) among populations as well as between the subtropic and temperate regions. The wide distribution, long existence and outcrossing are presumably the main factors responsible for the high genetic diversity within populations. But the gravity dispersal of seeds and pollination by small insects set limits to the increase of genetic variation within populations and promote differentiation between populations and regions. In addition, allozyme variation does not distinguishS. scilloides var.albo-viridis and suggests that subtropic populations may be considered as a genetic entity.