长江流域■种群遗传多样性和遗传结构分析

鱼类群体遗传学研究主要集中在经济鱼类或濒危物种,然而一些经济价值较低的物种的遗传结构却甚少关注。因此,研究选择了经济价值较低的■(Hemiculter leucisculus),共计323尾个体分别来自13个长江流域及其附属湖泊的自然群体。通过扩增线粒体DNA Cytb基因序列片段(1100 bp),以探讨■种群遗传结构和遗传多样性。遗传多样性分析呈现出高单倍型多样性和高核苷酸多样性的模式,表明该种群在长江流域较为稳定。另外,基于线粒体细胞色素b基因的系统发育分析,显示■有5个线粒体谱系(谱系A-F)组成。中性检验和核苷酸错配分布分析均显示谱系A、B、E、F曾经历过种群扩张,并且呈现从上游向中游扩张的规律。谱系间较高且显著的遗传分化指数和显著的系统进化关系,均表明谱系A-F之间存在明显的遗传分化,暗示长江流域可能至少存在4个不同线粒体DNA水平上的种。■种群的遗传结构和多样性可能受到了长江流域特定格局的影响。     

生态基因组学研究进展

生态基因组学是一个整合生态学、分子遗传学和进化基因组学的新兴交叉学科。生态基因组学将基因组学的研究手段和方法引入生态学领域,通过将群体基因组学、转录组学、蛋白质组学等手段与方法将个体、种群及群落、生态系统不同层次的生态学相互作用整合起来,确定在生态学响应及相互作用中具有重要意义的关键的基因和遗传途径,阐明这些基因及遗传途径变异的程度及其生态和进化后果的特征,从基因水平探索有机体响应天然环境(包括生物与非生物的环境因子)的遗传学机制。生态基因组学的研究对象可以分为模式生物与非模式生物两大类。拟南芥、酿酒酵母等模式生物在生态基因组学领域发挥了重要作用。随着越来越多基因组学技术的开发与完善,越来越多的非模式生物生态基因组学的研究将为生态学的发展提供重要的理论与实践依据。生态基因组学最核心的方法包括寻找序列变异、研究基因差异表达和分析基因功能等方法。生态基因组学已广泛渗透到生态学的相关领域中,将会在生物对环境的响应、物种间的相互作用、进化生态学、全球变化生态学、入侵生态学、群落生态学等研究领域发挥更大的作用。     

贵州紫云刺葡萄自然发酵中野生酿酒酵母基因型多样性分析

[目的] 研究贵州紫云县刺葡萄自然发酵过程中野生酿酒酵母的基因型多样性,分析不同基因型酵母在不同发酵时期的动态变化,为优良酿酒酵母资源的开发利用提供理论依据。[方法] 采用Interdelta指纹图谱分析方法和微卫星分子标记法,研究贵州紫云县刺葡萄自然发酵中野生酿酒酵母的基因型多样性,并通过DPS软件分析不同基因型之间的遗传关系。[结果] 贵州紫云县刺葡萄自然发酵中共分离野生酿酒酵母75株,经Interdelta指纹图谱分析方法和微卫星分子标记法鉴定为10个基因型,其中基因型6、9、10、11、14、15、16为野生酿酒酵母独有的7个基因型,7、17和18为野生与商业酿酒酵母共有的3个基因型,此外,本研究所用其他商业酿酒酵母另有独有的9个基因型（1、2、3、4、5、8、12、13和19）。75株野生酿酒酵母中基因型17的占比最高为36%,其次为基因型10占比为13.3%。在自然发酵过程中不同基因型呈现此消彼长的变化,每一种基因型的菌株细胞密度在10⁴-10⁷ CFU/mL之间。[结论] 贵州紫云县刺葡萄自然发酵样品展现了丰富的酿酒酵母菌株基因型多样性,其中基因型10和17为主导基因型,该研究为贵州刺葡萄优良野生酿酒酵母资源的开发奠定了基础。     

青藏高原濒危植物唐古特大黄的遗传多样性

唐古特大黄(Rheum tanguticum)是中国传统的中藏药材,近几年由于生境的严重破坏,已濒临灭绝,并被列入濒危植物名单。为了探索唐古特大黄物种濒危的原因并保护其野生资源,本研究采集了9个居群87个个体的唐古特大黄样本,基于该物种的叶绿体基因trn S-G序列对其进行了遗传多样性研究。结果表明,唐古特大黄物种具有较高的遗传多样性水平(Ht=0.694),其中95.97%的遗传分化来自于居群间(G_(ST)=0.960),4.03%的遗传分化来自于居群内(Hs=0.028)。AMOVA分析也显示唐古特大黄居群间基因流较小(N_m=0.01),存在较高的遗传分化(F_(ST)=0.9631)。唐古特大黄较高的遗传多样性水平可能与该物种较长的进化史和生活史有关,居群间较高的遗传分化可能与高山地区特殊的地理环境和人类活动有关。根据研究结果,建议对唐古特大黄所有野生居群进行就地保护,同时收集种质资源开展异地繁殖工作,以保护物种的遗传多样性,维持其进化潜力。     

白花刺续断野生居群的叶绿体全基因组特征解析

白花刺续断在中国西藏是一种常用的药用植物,但其叶绿体全基因组的相关研究较少。为揭示该物种叶绿体全基因组的基本特征并探讨其谱系遗传结构,该研究利用Illumina测序平台对来自5个野生居群的10个白花刺续断个体进行二代测序,经组装、注释,得到10条完整的叶绿体全基因组序列,并对它们的基因组特征和居群间的谱系进化关系进行了初步研究。结果表明：(1)白花刺续断的叶绿体全基因组大小为155 335～156 266 bp,共注释113个基因,包括72个蛋白编码基因、30个tRNA基因和4个rRNA基因,其叶绿体基因组的大小、结构、GC含量及基因组成等方面在种内高度保守。(2)基因组比较分析表明,白花刺续断变异较大的片段均位于单拷贝区,且IR边界未出现明显的扩张和收缩。(3)群体遗传分析发现,白花刺续断的野生居群具有明显的地理遗传结构,不同居群间在遗传距离与地理距离上具有一定的相关性。研究认为,白花刺续断叶绿体基因组在种内居群水平上比较保守,且叶绿体基因组可在居群水平上揭示物种的地理遗传结构。这为后续开展刺续断属物种群体遗传学和系统发育基因组学研究奠定了基础。     

白木香遗传多样性研究

用ISSR分子标记技术对白木香(Aquilaria sinensis(Lour.)Gilg)的遗传多样性进行分析.结果表明,白木香物种水平的遗传多样性较高,而居群水平的遗传多样性相对较低,其中广东茂名居群的遗传多样性最高.白木香居群间存在较大的遗传分化,遗传分化系数G_(ST)=0.4425,表明居群内遗传分化大于居群间的分化.UPGMA聚类分析表明白木香分化为两个谱系,其中谱系Ⅰ由广东、福建、海南的5居群组成,谱系Ⅱ由广西、云南的3个居群组成.居群间的基因交流受到阻碍(Nm=0.6633<1),阻碍主要产生于两个谱系间,而谱系内部的居群间在较近的历史时期基因交流频繁(Nm分别为1.4382和1.2333),谱系分化的原因主要是地理因素,两谱系交界处有云开山脉等形成的天然屏障,阻碍物种的扩展和基因交流.     

基于AFLP分析的伯乐树(Bretschneidera sinensis)谱系地理学研究

伯乐树（Bretschneidera sinensis Hemsl.）是主要分布于中国的濒危物种。采用AFLP分子标记对分布于中国11个省的24个伯乐树居群192个个体进行谱系地理学研究。结果显示,伯乐树有相对较高的遗传多样性水平,基因多样性指数（He）和Shannon指数（Ⅰ）分别为0.2728和0.4070。伯乐树居群间的遗传分化远大于居群内遗传分化,遗传分化系数G_ST=0.7138,基因流N_m=0.2005。通过聚类分析、STRUCTURE分析和BAPS分析发现,24个伯乐树居群可形成4大地理居群组和进化谱系;云贵高原东部地区居群遗传多样性较高,可能是伯乐树在中国的扩散中心和冰期避难所,伯乐树在冰期后由此向外进行居群扩散;南岭地区各居群遗传多样性水平普遍高于其他地区,与邻近地区各居群的亲缘关系较近,可能为伯乐树演化历史上的另一个冰期避难所。     

云贵高原银星竹鼠的遗传多样性与遗传结构研究

作为一类营地下生活的啮齿动物,银星竹鼠Rhizomys pruinosus具有较高的食用价值和药用价值,已成为我国南方地区特种经济动物养殖业的重点发展物种。以核内重组蛋白激活基因1(RAG1)的基因片段为分子标记,采用分子生物学方法,本研究对来自12个采样点的173个银星竹鼠个体进行群体遗传分析,探讨该物种群体遗传多样性和遗传结构。序列多态性分析结果显示,银星竹鼠RAG1基因部分序列848 bp,共检测出多态性位点18个,其中单突变位点3个,简约信息位点15个。遗传多样性分析表明,173份样本共统计出RAG1基因单倍型11个,单倍型多样性为0.712±0.025,核苷酸多样性为0.002 64±0.003 71,显著低于其他啮齿动物。最大似然法、邻接法和贝叶斯法构建的系统发育树显示,银星竹鼠群体分化为3个分支,其谱系地理格局出现明显分化。同时,分子变异分析结果证实,银星竹鼠种群间的遗传变异极显著高于种群内的,说明该物种存在显著的遗传结构和遗传分化水平。上述研究结果综合表明,银星竹鼠群体的遗传多样性水平较低,遗传分化结构较为显著,这可能与该物种的地下生活方式、扩散能力弱、山脉河流阻隔作用、地质气候事件等因素有关。本研究结果将为云贵高原地区物种多样性、生物多样性保护提供科学的参考依据。     

四川甘孜州高山葡萄酒产区酵母菌多样性分析

【背景】西南高山葡萄酒产区的甘孜州产区,具有生产优质葡萄酒的自然禀赋。【目的】研究四川甘孜州葡萄酒产区真核微生物种类多样性、本土酿酒酵母遗传多样性,以及商业酵母对本土酵母多样性的影响。【方法】利用ITS高通量测序技术对赤霞珠接种发酵和自然发酵过程中的微生物进行多样性分析,并利用Interdelta指纹图谱分析法,对经过26S rRNA基因鉴定的野生酿酒酵母基因型进行分类。【结果】ITS测序结果显示,接种发酵和自然发酵各时期均注释到7个科7个属的酵母,通过Interdelta指纹图谱分析发现甘孜州产区的酿酒酵母共有5种基因型。该产区酿酒酵母的6株代表菌株与我国其他产区109株酿酒酵母的进化树分析结果显示,均与来自北京产区的酿酒酵母菌株亲缘关系更近。【结论】甘孜州葡萄酒子产区酵母资源丰富,表现出较高的微生物多样性和中等程度的本土酿酒酵母基因型多样性,为后续优良本土酵母菌株的筛选奠定基础。     

叶绿体DNA标记在谱系地理学中的应用研究进展

谱系地理学研究旨在探究历史上发生的影响目前遗传谱系系统发育和空间分布格局关系的生态与进化过程。叶绿体DNA具有单亲遗传、低突变率、单倍体等特征, 其分子标记不同程度地保留着植物长期进化的历史遗传痕迹, 有助于深度解析谱系地理变异的形成机制。本文探讨了上述特征是怎样影响分子标记的选择、扩大或缩小群体遗传结构分化、延长或缩短空间基因溯祖时间、促进或阻碍种间基因渐渗及谱系分选(复系、并系和单系形成)进程, 重点阐述了这些影响过程的理论基础, 并结合实际例子阐述谱系地理研究进展。由于位点间在突变率、选择强度及它们与漂变互作等方面存在异质性, 今后一个研究重点就是基于叶绿体全基因组序列分析谱系地理变化格局, 包括分析DNA位点间的基因渐渗或基因流动程度差异分布及沿着叶绿体DNA序列上谱系分选差异分布。     

Surprisingly diverged populations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in natural environments remote from human activity

The budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is a leading system in genetics, genomics and molecular biology and is becoming a powerful tool to illuminate ecological and evolutionary principles. However, little is known of the ecology and population structure of this species in nature. Here, we present a field survey of this yeast at an unprecedented scale and have performed population genetics analysis of Chinese wild isolates with different ecological and geographical origins. We also included a set of worldwide isolates that represent the maximum genetic variation of S. cerevisiae documented so far. We clearly show that S. cerevisiae is a ubiquitous species in nature, occurring in highly diversified substrates from human‐associated environments as well as habitats remote from human activity. Chinese isolates of S. cerevisiae exhibited strong population structure with nearly double the combined genetic variation of isolates from the rest of the world. We identified eight new distinct wild lineages (CHN I–VIII) from a set of 99 characterized Chinese isolates. Isolates from primeval forests occur in ancient and significantly diverged basal lineages, while those from human‐associated environments generally cluster in less differentiated domestic or mosaic groups. Basal lineages from primeval forests are usually inbred, exhibit lineage‐specific karyotypes and are partially reproductively isolated. Our results suggest that greatly diverged populations of wild S. cerevisiae exist independently of and predate domesticated isolates. We find that China harbours a reservoir of natural genetic variation of S. cerevisiae and perhaps gives an indication of the origin of the species.     

The genomics of wild yeast populations sheds light on the domestication of man's best (micro) friend

The domestication of plants, animals and microbes by humans are the longest artificial evolution experiments ever performed. The study of these long‐term experiments can teach us about the genomics of adaptation through the identification of the genetic bases underlying the traits favoured by humans. In laboratory evolution, the characterization of the molecular changes that evolved specifically in some lineages is straightforward because the ancestors are readily available, for instance in the freezer. However, in the case of domesticated species, the ancestor is often missing, which leads to the necessity of going back to nature in order to infer the most likely ancestral state. Significant and relatively recent examples of this approach include wolves as the closest wild relative to domestic dogs (Axelsson et al. 2013) and teosinte as the closest relative to maize (reviewed in Hake & Ross‐Ibarra 2015). In both cases, the joint analysis of domesticated lineages and their wild cousins has been key in reconstructing the molecular history of their domestication. While the identification of closest wild relatives has been done for many plants and animals, these comparisons represent challenges for micro‐organisms. This has been the case for the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, whose natural ecological niche is particularly challenging to define. For centuries, this unicellular fungus has been the cellular factory for wine, beer and bread crafting, and currently for bioethanol and drug production. While the recent development of genomics has lead to the identification of many genetic elements associated with important wine characteristics, the historical origin of some of the domesticated wine strains has remained elusive due to the lack of knowledge of their close wild relatives. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Almeida et al. (2015) identified what is to date the closest known wild population of the wine yeast. This population is found associated with oak trees in Europe, presumably its natural host. Using population genomics analyses, Almeida and colleagues discovered that the initial divergence between natural and domesticated wine yeasts in the Mediterranean region took place around the early days of wine production. Surprisingly, genomic regions that are key to wine production today appeared not to be derived from these natural populations but from genes gained from other yeast species.     

A population genomics insight into the Mediterranean origins of wine yeast domestication

The domestication of the wine yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is thought to be contemporary with the development and expansion of viticulture along the Mediterranean basin. Until now, the unavailability of wild lineages prevented the identification of the closest wild relatives of wine yeasts. Here, we enlarge the collection of natural lineages and employ whole‐genome data of oak‐associated wild isolates to study a balanced number of anthropic and natural S. cerevisiae strains. We identified industrial variants and new geographically delimited populations, including a novel Mediterranean oak population. This population is the closest relative of the wine lineage as shown by a weak population structure and further supported by genomewide population analyses. A coalescent model considering partial isolation with asymmetrical migration, mostly from the wild group into the Wine group, and population growth, was found to be best supported by the data. Importantly, divergence time estimates between the two populations agree with historical evidence for winemaking. We show that three horizontally transmitted regions, previously described to contain genes relevant to wine fermentation, are present in the Wine group but not in the Mediterranean oak group. This represents a major discontinuity between the two populations and is likely to denote a domestication fingerprint in wine yeasts. Taken together, these results indicate that Mediterranean oaks harbour the wild genetic stock of domesticated wine yeasts.     

Genetic structure in Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) populations: Strong spatial patterns in the wild ancestors of domestic chickens in a core distribution range

Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) are among the few remaining ancestors of an extant domesticated livestock species, the domestic chicken, that still occur in the wild. Little is known about genetic diversity, population structure, and demography of wild Red Junglefowl in their natural habitats. Extinction threats from habitat loss or genetic alteration from domestic introgression exacerbate further the conservation status of this progenitor species. In a previous study, we reported extraordinary adaptive genetic variation in the MHC B‐locus in wild Red Junglefowl and no evidence of allelic introgression between wild and domestic chickens was observed. In this study, we characterized spatial genetic variation and population structure in naturally occurring populations of Red Junglefowl in their core distribution range in South Central Vietnam. A sample of 212 Red Junglefowl was obtained from geographically and ecologically diverse habitats across an area of 250 × 350 km. We used amplified fragment‐length polymorphism markers obtained from 431 loci to determine whether genetic diversity and population structure varies. We found that Red Junglefowl are widely distributed but form small and isolated populations. Strong spatial genetic patterns occur at both local and regional scales. At local scale, population stratification can be identified to approximately 5 km. At regional scale, we identified distinct populations of Red Junglefowl in the southern lowlands, northern highlands, and eastern coastal portions of the study area. Both local and long‐distance genetic patterns observed in wild Red Junglefowl may reflect the species’ ground‐dwelling and territorial characteristics, including dispersal barriers imposed by the Annamite Mountain Range. Spatially explicit analyses with neutral genetic markers can be highly informative and here elevates the conservation profile of the wild ancestors of domesticated chickens.     

接种发酵和自然发酵中酿酒酵母菌株多样性比较

【目的】探究自然发酵和接种发酵两种发酵方式,对霞多丽葡萄发酵中酵母菌种多样性和酿酒酵母菌株遗传多样性的影响。【方法】以霞多丽葡萄为原料,分别进行自然发酵和接种不同酿酒酵母菌株(NXU17-26、UCD522和UCD2610)的发酵,利用26S rDNA D1/D2区序列分析和Interdelta指纹图谱技术分别进行酵母菌的种间及种内水平的区分,通过聚类分析及多样性指数对不同发酵方式下酿酒酵母菌株的多样性进行分析和比较。【结果】自然发酵的发酵曲线较平缓,接种发酵的发酵速度显著快于自然发酵。26S rDNA D1/D2区序列分析将4个发酵中分离到的酵母菌鉴定为6属11种,自然发酵中分离的酵母有5属6种,均为非酿酒酵母(non-Saccharomyces);而接种发酵中的酵母多样性远低于自然发酵,均由酿酒酵母和两种非酿酒酵母组成。Interdelta指纹图谱分析表明,接种UCD2610的发酵中,发酵后UCD2610是优势菌株,其基因型占比为48.78%;接种NXU17-26和UCD522的发酵中,未发现与NXU17-26和UCD522相同的基因型。聚类分析表明,分离自接种UCD522发酵中的...     

Tapping into yeast diversity

Domesticated organisms demonstrate our capacity to influence wild species but also provide us with the opportunity to understand rapid evolution in the context of substantially altered environments and novel selective pressures. Recent advances in genetics and genomics have brought unprecedented insights into the domestication of many organisms and have opened new avenues for further improvements to be made. Yet, our ability to engineer biological systems is not without limits; genetic manipulation is often quite difficult. The budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is not only one of the most powerful model organisms, but is also the premier producer of fermented foods and beverages around the globe. As a model system, it entertains a hefty workforce dedicated to deciphering its genome and the function it encodes at a rich mechanistic level. As a producer, it is used to make leavened bread, and dozens of different alcoholic beverages, such as beer and wine. Yet, applying the awesome power of yeast genetics to understanding its origins and evolution requires some knowledge of its wild ancestors and the environments from which they were derived. A number of surprisingly diverse lineages of S. cerevisiae from both primeval and secondary forests in China have been discovered by Wang and his colleagues. These lineages substantially expand our knowledge of wild yeast diversity and will be a boon to elucidating the ecology, evolution and domestication of this academic and industrial workhorse.     

Genetic structure and diversity of natural and domesticated populations of Citrus medica L. in the Eastern Himalayan region of Northeast India

Citron (Citrus medica L.) is a medicinally important species of citrus native to India and occurs in natural forests and home gardens in the foothills of the eastern Himalayan region of northeast India. The wild populations of citron in the region have undergone rapid decline due to natural and anthropogenic disturbances and most of the remaining individuals of citron are found in fragmented natural forests and home gardens in the region. In order to assess the genetic structure and diversity of citron in wild and domesticated populations, we analyzed 219 individuals of C. medica collected from four wild and eight domesticated populations using microsatellite markers. The genetic analysis based on five polymorphic microsatellite loci revealed an average of 13.40 allele per locus. The mean observed and expected heterozygosity values ranged between 0.220–0.540 and 0.438–0.733 respectively among the wild and domesticated populations. Domesticated populations showed close genetic relationships as compared to wild populations and pairwise Nei's genetic distance ranged from 0.062 to 2.091 among wild and domesticated populations. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed higher genetic diversity among‐ than within populations. The analysis of population structure revealed five groups. Mixed ancestry of few individuals of different populations revealed exchange of genetic materials among farmers in the region. Citron populations in the region show high genetic variation. The knowledge gained through this study is invaluable for devising genetically sound strategies for conservation of citron genetic resources in the region.     

Diversity and evolution of rice progenitors in Australia

In the thousands of years of rice domestication in Asia, many useful genes have been lost from the gene pool. Wild rice is a key source of diversity for domesticated rice. Genome sequencing has suggested that the wild rice populations in northern Australia may include novel taxa, within the AA genome group of close (interfertile) wild relatives of domesticated rice that have evolved independently due to geographic separation and been isolated from the loss of diversity associated with gene flow from the large populations of domesticated rice in Asia. Australian wild rice was collected from 27 sites from Townsville to the northern tip of Cape York. Whole chloroplast genome sequences and 4,555 nuclear gene sequences (more than 8 Mbp) were used to explore genetic relationships between these populations and other wild and domesticated rices. Analysis of the chloroplast and nuclear data showed very clear evidence of distinctness from other AA genome Oryza species with significant divergence between Australian populations. Phylogenetic analysis suggested the Australian populations represent the earliest‐branching AA genome lineages and may be critical resources for global rice food security. Nuclear genome analysis demonstrated that the diverse O. meridionalis populations were sister to all other AA genome taxa while the Australian O. rufipogon‐like populations were associated with the clade that included domesticated rice. Populations of apparent hybrids between the taxa were also identified suggesting ongoing dynamic evolution of wild rice in Australia. These introgressions model events similar to those likely to have been involved in the domestication of rice.     

Domestication and the distribution of genetic variation in wild and cultivated populations of the Mesoamerican fruit tree Spondias purpurea L. (Anacardiaceae)

Domestication occurs as humans select and cultivate wild plants in agricultural habitats. The amount and structure of variation in contemporary cultivated populations has been shaped, in part, by how genetic material was transferred from one cultivated generation to the next. In some cultivated tree species, domestication involved a shift from sexually reproducing wild populations to vegetatively propagated cultivated populations; however, little is known about how domestication has impacted variation in these species. We employed AFLP data to explore the amount, structure, and distribution of variation in clonally propagated domesticated populations and sexually reproducing wild populations of the Neotropical fruit tree, Spondias purpurea (Anacardiaceae). Cultivated populations from three different agricultural habitats were included: living fences, backyards, and orchards. AFLP data were analysed using measures of genetic diversity (% polymorphic loci, Shannon's diversity index, Nei's gene diversity, panmictic heterozygosity), population structure (F(ST) analogues), and principal components analyses. Levels of genetic variation in cultivated S. purpurea populations are significantly less than variation found in wild populations, although the amount of diversity varies in different agricultural habitats. Cultivated populations have a greater proportion of their genetic variability distributed among populations than wild populations. The genetic structure of backyard populations resembles that of wild populations, but living fence and orchard populations have 1/3 more variability distributed among populations, most likely a reflection of relative levels of vegetative reproduction. Finally, these results suggest that S. purpurea was domesticated in two distinct regions within Mesoamerica.     

Migration without interbreeding: Evolutionary history of a highly selfing Mediterranean grass inferred from whole genomes

Wild plant populations show extensive genetic subdivision and are far from the ideal of panmixia which permeates population genetic theory. Understanding the spatial and temporal scale of population structure is therefore fundamental for empirical population genetics – and of interest in itself, as it yields insights into the history and biology of a species. In this study we extend the genomic resources for the wild Mediterranean grass Brachypodium distachyon to investigate the scale of population structure and its underlying history at whole-genome resolution. A total of 86 accessions were sampled at local and regional scales in Italy and France, which closes a conspicuous gap in the collection for this model organism. The analysis of 196 accessions, spanning the Mediterranean from Spain to Iraq, suggests that the interplay of high selfing and seed dispersal rates has shaped genetic structure in B. distachyon. At the continental scale, the evolution in B. distachyon is characterized by the independent expansion of three lineages during the Upper Pleistocene. Today, these lineages may occur on the same meadow yet do not interbreed. At the regional scale, dispersal and selfing interact and maintain high genotypic diversity, thus challenging the textbook notion that selfing in finite populations implies reduced diversity. Our study extends the population genomic resources for B. distachyon and suggests that an important use of this wild plant model is to investigate how selfing and dispersal, two processes typically studied separately, interact in colonizing plant species.