Allozyme variation of the relict plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aristolochia manshuriensis</Emphasis> Kom. (Aristolochiaceae)

Allozyme variation of a rare relict plant, birthwort Aristolochia manshuriensis Kom., was examined. The main parameters of genetic variation in natural populations of A. manshuriensis from the Anan’evka, Nezhinka, and Malaya Borisovka river basins (Primorskii Krai) were inferred from analysis of nine enzyme systems, presumably encoded by 18 loci. At 99% polymorphism criterion, 24.4% of A. manshuriensis loci were shown to be polymorphic. The mean number of alleles per locus was 1.24; the mean observed and expected heterozygosities, 0.12 and 0.10, respectively.     

Microsatellite variability and heterozygote deficiency in the arctic-alpine Alaskan wheatgrass (Elymus alaskanus) complex.

Genetic variation in the allotetraploid grass Elymus alaskanus complex was assessed using microsatellites in seven populations from Canada, Greenland, and the U.S.A. Microsatellite variation was compared with allozyme and RAPD variation. Our results indicated that E. alaskanus was highly homozygous but also highly variable. The polymorphic loci ranged from 50 to 100% with a mean of 78.6%, and the mean number of allele per locus was 3.14. Average expected heterozygosity value (HE, gene diversity) varied across populations and ranged from 0.244 to 0.651 with mean of 0.414. The mean value of HE across Canadian populations (0.517) was significantly higher than that across populations in Greenland (0.367). The correlation between allozyme and microsatellite gene diversity value (HE) showed a high positive correlation (r = 0.68), but between RAPD and microsatellite showed a low positive correlation (r = 0.08). Populations were highly differentiated, with 38% of variation among populations. Interpopulation genetic distance showed no association with geographic distance between the population sites of origin. A Hardy-Weinberg exact test for all loci and all populations reveals a significant heterozygote deficiency. Possible explanations for heterozygote deficiency are discussed.     

Allozyme variations in six natural populations of scots pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis>) in Turkey

Genetic variation in six natural populations of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) was determined with isoenzyme analyses. For this purpose, haploid female gametophytes of seeds and horizontal starch gel electrophoresis technique were used. A total of 17 loci and 58 alleles were observed in studying 10 enzyme systems. The average proportion of polymorphic loci for populations ranged from 58.8% to 70.6%. The average number of alleles per locus per population was 2.65. The mean estimated expected heterozygosity (He) of populations was 0.294. A rather high proportion of genetic diversity (96.4%) was due to within-population variation and the remaining (3.6%) was due to variation among populations. The level of gene flow (N_em) was found to be 6.69 per generation. Nei’s genetic distance coefficient ranged from 0.006 to 0.027 (mean 0.017) among all possible population pairs. The mean value of Nei’s genetic distance is similar to the values reported for other European Scots pine populations. The low mean value of Nei’s genetic distance among populations is enough to explain low interpopulation variation. According to genetic variation parameters, three out of six populations (Akdagmadeni-Yozgat, Refahiye-Erzincan and Vezirkopru-Samsun) appear to be preferable populations for genetic conservation and forest tree breeding programs.     

Genetic diversity and structure in a natural Elymus caninus population from Denmark based on microsatellite and isozyme analyses

 Genetic diversity in a natural Elymus caninus population from Denmark was assessed using isozyme and microsatellite markers. A total of 119 individuals from 46 maternal plants were assayed. Microsatellite loci are shown to display higher levels of variation than isozyme loci. The mean number of alleles per locus was 1.04 for isozymes and 1.38 for microsatellites. The percentage of polymorphic loci for isozymes and microsatellites was 4.7% and 23.6% across the maternal plant, respectively. The genetic diversity at population level was 0.1 for isozymes, and 0.63 for microsatellites. The mean genetic diversity at maternal plant level was 0.027 for isozyme loci and 0.117 for microsatellite loci. The average of total allozyme diversity (H_T) was 0.22. The average of total microsatellite diversity was 0.56. Isozyme and microsatellite variation showed the same pattern of differentiation between maternal plants. More than 75% total genetic diversity was found among maternal plants. About 25% total genetic diversity was detected within maternal plants. Ten (22.7%) maternal plants produced heterozygous offspring at allozyme loci, and 30 (68.2%) maternal plants gave heterozygous offspring at microsatellite loci. Both types of markers revealed a relatively high genetic diversity in this population. Received November 7, 2000 Accepted February 15, 2001     

葫芦苏铁遗传多样性的等位酶分析

采用等位酶技术,分析了葫芦苏铁5个居群的遗传多样性。分析6个酶系统,共获得了13个基因位点, 结果表明:葫芦苏铁具有较高水平的遗传变异性,多态位点百分率(P)为56．9％,等位基因平均数A=1.62,等 位基因多样性指数Ho=0.105,He=0．164,居群杂合体过量的位点为50％。居群遗传结构分析表明,大部分 遗传变异(93．6％)存在于居群内(FST=0．064),居群间分化程度甚微。根据葫芦苏铁的居群遗传结构式样并 结合相关研究,提出了就地保护所有居群,迁地保护从东一、王下和水田三个大居群取样的保护策略。     

Population genetics of polymorphisms in Cardiff newborn. Relationship between blood group and allozyme heterozygosity and birth weight

A newborn population of Cardiff, Wales, was screened for variation at three blood group loci (ABO, Rhesus and MN) and four enzyme loci (ACP-1, PGM-1, ADA and EST-D). Birth weights were measured. There were no significant differences between mean birth weights or birth weight variances for individuals homozygous or heterozygous at the MN and the four enzyme loci. (ABO and Rhesus loci cannot be used in these tests.) There was no significant heterogeneity in contingency tables relating phenotypes at the seven loci to birth weight. There were no significant differences in mean heterozygosity per locus between babies placed in different birth weight categories, ranging from 2.5 to 4.2 kg. The genetic variation screened appears therefore to be neutral with respect to this character.     

广西石灰岩地区蜈蚣蕨居群的遗传多样性研究

采用等位酶分析方法 ,研究了广西石灰岩地区蜈蚣蕨居群的遗传多样性 ,分析了其空间变化趋势。检测了 8个酶系统 ,1 5个酶位点。分析结果表明 :广西石灰岩地区蜈蚣蕨居群遗传多样性程度较高 ,每个位点的等位基因平均数为 1 .6 7,多态位点为 5 7.78% ,平均期望杂合度为 0 .2 4 9。蜈蚣蕨居群的遗传组成在居群间有一定的差异 ,但差异的程度并不与空间距离成正比     

Linkage disequilibrium between alleles at highly polymorphic mini- and micro-satellite loci of Theileria parva isolated from cattle in three regions of Kenya

Theileria parva schizont-infected lymphocyte culture isolates from western, central and coastal Kenya were analysed for size polymorphism at 30 T. parva-specific variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) loci using a panel of mini- and micro-satellite markers. The mean number of alleles ranged from 3 to 11 at individual loci and 183 distinct alleles were observed in total, indicating high genetic diversity within the T. parva gene pool in Kenyan cattle. The frequency distribution of the length variation of specific alleles among isolates ranged from normal to markedly discontinuous. Genetic relationships between isolates were analysed using standard indices of genetic distance. Genetic distances and dendrograms derived from these using neighbour-joining algorithms did not indicate significant clustering on a geographical basis. Analysis of molecular variance demonstrated that the genetic variation between individual isolates was 72%, but only 2.3% when isolates from different regions were pooled. Both these observations suggest minimal genetic sub-structuring relative to geographical origin. Linkage disequilibrium was observed between pairs of loci within populations, as in certain Ugandan T. parva populations. A novel observation was that disequilibrium was also detected between alleles at three individual pairs of VNTR loci when isolates from the three regional meta-populations were pooled for analysis.     

Population genetic structure and differentiation of Anthoxanthum alpinum in the subalpine-alpine ecocline of Swiss Alps

Allozyme variation in 6 enzyme systems coding 10 loci was estimated for 18 subpopulations of Anthoxanthum alpinum from three altitudinal transects in two localities of the Swiss Alps. Mean proportions of polymorphic loci (95% criterion), average number of alleles per locus, and mean expected heterozygosity were 64.9%, 2.37 and 0. 252, respectively. Mean genetic distance among populations was 0.011, and 79% of the genetic variation resided within populations. Based on allozyme analysis, marginal subpopulations appeared to have similar level of genetic variability to central subpopulations. Relatively high genetic differentiation, low gene flow values and small neighbourhood sizes suggested that inbreeding followed by genetic drift was possible causes of lowgenetic variability in Arpette A. alpinum populations.     

福清黑松醇溶蛋白的群体遗传分析

采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳技术,对福清黑松群体进行醇溶蛋白的多样性分析,共获得40种图谱,9个等位基因位点。对这些位点的统计分析表明,福清黑松的多肽位点百分率P=55.56%, 等位基因平均数A=3.00,平均等位基因有效数目Ae=2.28,预期杂合度He=0.533,平均实际杂合度Ho=0.402,固定指数F仅为0.246>0。该群体表现出遗传多样性水平较高,但该群体偏离了Hardy-Weinberg平衡定律,原因可能是取样偏差、群体中个体密度分布不均和个体生长状况不好,不能产生充分的随机交配,出现遗传漂移导致的。     

Genetic variation in remnant populations of Dalbergia nigra (Papilionoideae), an endangered tree from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Dalbergia nigra, known as Brazilian rosewood, is an endangered tree species restricted to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and has been intensively logged for five centuries due to its high-quality wood. The objective of the present study was to assess the genetic variation and structure in adults and saplings of the species from a large reserve of the Atlantic Forest, the Rio Doce State Park, and from two small surrounding fragments, one better preserved and another with a high degree of anthropogenic disturbance. METHODS: Analyses of genetic variation and structure were conducted by studying allozyme markers. Seven putative enzymatic loci were resolved, five of them being polymorphic. KEY RESULTS: The mean numbers of alleles per locus (A) were 1.93 and 1.73, while the percentages of polymorphic loci (P) were 93 and 73 % for adults and saplings, respectively. Saplings from the fragment with high anthropogenic disturbance exhibited the lowest values of A and P. The fragment that constitutes a conservation area exhibited genetic variation similar to the population from the large reserve. The observed (H(o)) and expected (H(e)) heterozygosities were not significantly different among the three populations. Only sapling populations showed F(ST) values (divergence among populations) significantly different from zero over all studied loci. The fragment with high anthropogenic disturbance exhibited considerable genetic divergence in relation to the above-cited populations. CONCLUSIONS: The evaluated populations displayed mean levels of genetic variation intermediate to those expected for narrow and widespread species. The results suggest that fragments with similar area and geographical distance from a large protected reserve can exhibit different levels of genetic variation, depending on the degree of anthropogenic disturbance. The considerable genetic variation in the protected fragment points to the importance of adequate conservation of small fragments for the preservation of genetic variation in D. nigra.     

欧洲中部刺槐种源群体等位酶变异研究

从欧洲中部及美国收集了18个刺槐种源种子,以2年生苗木为材料,采用水平切片淀粉凝胶电泳和聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳对11个酶系统进行了检测,共发现20个酶位点,其中14个为多态位点,多态性位点百分数为70％。在参加计算的7个酶系统的12个多态性位点中,平均每个位点的等位基因数(A)和平均每位点等位基因有效数(Ae)为2.733和1．794,平均每个位点的实际杂合度(Ho)和预期杂合度(He)为0．368和0．400,固定指数(F)为0．080,绝大多数位点固定指数为正值。各基因位点遗传参数与12个位点平均值进行相关分析表明,Fe-6和Lap-a的大部分群体遗传参数(A、Ae、Ho、He等)与平均值存在紧密的相关关系,其他位点各项遗传参数和总平均值相关不明显,这些位点的重要性可能比相关性较好的位点更大。德国8个种源群体间遗传距离变化在0．09-0．26之间,来自匈牙利的6个种源之间遗传距离很小,绝大部分均在0．11以下;德国的8个种源与匈牙利和斯洛伐克的8个种源之间的遗传距离变化在0．09-0．24之间;来自美国的2个种源,与欧洲的种源间的遗传距离在0．09-0．23之间,这一距离没有超出欧洲种源之间的差异。匈牙利和斯洛伐克的8个种源群体的各项遗传参数均高于德国种源,表明这两个国家的遗传多样性水平较高。同时来自这两个国家的种源群体间变异系数变化在2．92％-9．97％,说明群体之间的遗传差别很小。德国的8个种源群体各项遗传参数相对较低,但群体间变异系数较高,群体间遗传差别较大。以各个国家为群体单位,4个群体间各项遗传参数的变异均较小,变异系数变化在3．861％-5．139％,表明刺槐种源间地理变异模式不明显。     

Genetic variation in rural and urban populations of Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz. (Orchidaceae) in Britain

Genetic variation in Epipactis helleborine in the British Isles was assessed using starch gel electrophoresis of isozymes; 273 individuals were sampled from 13 populations and examined for genetic variation using eight enzyme systems encoded for by 13 loci. Overall, 46% of the loci examined were polymorphic, with an average of 1.69 alleles per locus. Within populations, a mean of 33% of the loci were polymorphic, with a mean number of 1.46 alleles per locus. Levels of genetic variation were compared between urban and well established rural populations to assess the genetic consequences of colonization of the urban sites. The average levels of genetic variation detected in urban populations were lower than that found in rural populations, although there was a much greater range of variation among the urban populations. Large urban populations actually have patterns of variation similar to rural populations and show evidence of multiple founders. This indicates that the high dispersibility of Epipactis seeds can in some cases overcome the predicted loss of genetic variation associated with founder effects during colonization. Small urban populations, however, show significantly lower levels of genetic variation compared with these large urban populations and the rural populations, and it seems likely that this is attributable to single founding events and/or genetic drift.     

阿尔卑斯山高山-亚高山过渡区高山黄花茅的群体遗传结构和分化研究

应用等位酶分析,在瑞士阿尔卑斯山的阿尔拜特(Arpette)和拜阿尔普(Belalp),沿三个不同的海拔梯度,研究了高山黄花茅3个自然居群的遗传变异和分化。研究结果表明,平均的多态性位点比例为64．9％,每个位点平均等位基因数为2．37,平均期望杂合性为0．252。亚居群间平均的遗传距离为0．011,发现79％的遗传变异存在于居群内。基于等位酶分析,边缘亚居群与中心亚居群似乎有类似的遗传变异性。相对比较高的遗传分化、低的亚居群间基因流和小的邻居大小值暗示,近交和随后的遗传漂变可能是导致阿尔拜特黄花茅居群遗传变异性较低的主要原因。     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellites in the columnar cactus: Polaskia chichipe and cross‐species amplification within the Tribe Pachycereeae (Cactaceae)

Microsatellite markers were developed for the columnar cactus Polaskia chichipe from central Mexico. After an enrichment procedure and three screening steps 87% of colonies contained microsatellites. A pair of primers for 10 loci (seven polymorphic) were developed, tested and used to estimate variation in samples of 18–45 individuals from the Tehuacan Valley, Mexico. Alleles per locus ranged from two to eight (mean 5.28; SD 2.5). Range of expected heterozygosity values was 0.188–0.797 (mean 0.502; SD 0.25). These loci are particularly useful for more precise evolutionary studies, such as gene flow and breeding systems, for this cactus species.     

Dissection of the genetic architecture of three seed‐quality traits and consequences for breeding in Brassica napus

Genome‐wide association studies (GWASs) combining high‐throughput genome resequencing and phenotyping can accelerate the dissection of genetic architecture and identification of genes for plant complex traits. In this study, we developed a rapeseed genomic variation map consisting of 4 542 011 SNPs and 628 666 INDELs. GWAS was performed for three seed‐quality traits, including erucic acid content (EAC), glucosinolate content (GSC) and seed oil content (SOC) using 3.82 million polymorphisms in an association panel. Six, 49 and 17 loci were detected to be associated with EAC, GSC and SOC in multiple environments, respectively. The mean total contribution of these loci in each environment was 94.1% for EAC and 87.9% for GSC, notably higher than that for SOC (40.1%). A high correlation was observed between phenotypic variance and number of favourable alleles for associated loci, which will contribute to breeding improvement by pyramiding these loci. Furthermore, candidate genes were detected underlying associated loci, based on functional polymorphisms in gene regions where sequence variation was found to correlate with phenotypic variation. Our approach was validated by detection of well‐characterized FAE1 genes at each of two major loci for EAC on chromosomes A8 and C3, along with MYB28 genes at each of three major loci for GSC on chromosomes A9, C2 and C9. Four novel candidate genes were detected by correlation between GSC and SOC and observed sequence variation, respectively. This study provides insights into the genetic architecture of three seed‐quality traits, which would be useful for genetic improvement of B. napus.     

Genetic diversity and population structure of Yucca filamentosa (Agavaceae)

Using 19 allozyme loci we studied genetic diversity in 18 populations of Yucca filamentosa (Agavaceae) from the southeastern United States. Of the 19 loci surveyed, 17 (89.5%) were polymorphic in at least one of the populations sampled. There was considerable variation among populations in the percentage of polymorphic loci (range = 31.6-84.2%, mean = 67.6%). Similar heterogeneity among populations was observed for mean number of alleles per polymorphic locus (range = 2.0-3.0; mean = 2.48) and mean expected heterozygosity (range = 0.113-0.288; mean = 0.213). On average, 83% of the total genetic diversity was found within populations. Duplications of three allozyme loci were detected in several populations. The life-history characteristics of Y. filamentosa (a long-lived, semiwoody, predominantly outcrossing monocot with a large geographical range) may contribute to the maintenance of such high levels of genetic diversity. These results contradict expectations of the genetic structure of Y. filamentosa based on observations of the dispersal and pollination behavior of its sole pollinator, Tegeticula yuccasella, the yucca moth.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci from the endangered New Zealand takahe (Gruiformes; Rallidae; Porphyrio hochstetteri)

Nineteen polymorphic microsatellite loci were characterized from the endangered takahe (Porphyrio hochstetteri). Like many of New Zealand's other native avian species, levels of polymorphism were low, with variation detected at only 19 of 110 (17.3%) loci, and most polymorphic loci (78.9%) were diallelic (mean number of alleles = 2.3). Despite these low levels of variation, the microsatellites developed here will be useful for parentage assignment for confirming pedigrees, and investigating relationships between genetic variation, pedigree‐based inbreeding and reproductive success in this highly endangered species.     

GENETIC DIVERSITY AND POPULATION STRUCTURE IN CAMELLIA JAPONICA L. (THEACEAE)

Camellia japonica is a widespread and morphologically diverse tree native to parts of Japan and adjacent islands. Starch gel electrophoresis was used to score allelic variation at 20 loci in seeds collected from 60 populations distributed throughout the species range. In comparison with other plant species, the level of genetic diversity within C. japonica populations is very high: 66.2% of loci were polymorphic on average per population, with a mean number of 2.16 alleles per locus; the mean observed and panmictic heterozygosities were 0.230 and 0.265, respectively. Genotypic proportions at most loci in most populations fit Hardy-Weinberg expectations. However, small heterozygote deficiencies were commonly observed (mean population fixation index = 0.129). It is suggested that the most likely cause of the observed deficiencies is population subdivision into genetically divergent subpopulations. The overall level of population differentiation is greater than is typically observed in out-breeders: The mean genetic distance and identity (Nei's D and I) between pairs of populations were 0.073 and 0.930, respectively, and Wright's Fst was 0.144. Differences among populations appeared to be manifested as variation in gene frequencies at many loci rather than variation in allelic composition per se. However, the patterns of variation were not random. Reciprocal clinal variation of gene frequencies was observed for allele pairs at six loci. In addition, principal components analysis revealed that populations tended to genetically cluster into four regions representing the geographic areas Kyushu, Shikoku, western Honshu, and eastern Honshu. There was a significant relationship between genetic and geographic distance (r = 0.61; P < 0.01). Analysis of variance on allozyme frequencies showed that there was approximately four times as much differentiation among populations within regions, as among regions. It is likely that the observed patterns of population relationships result from the balance between genetic drift in small subpopulations and gene flow between them.