中国狼不同地理种群遗传多样性及系统进化分析

为了解中国狼不同地理种群遗传多样性及系统发育情况,从中国境内狼的主要分布区青海、新疆、内蒙古和吉林4个地区采集样品,用分子生物学技术手段成功地获得44个个体线粒体DNA控制区第一高变区(HVRⅠ)序列和40个线粒体Cyt b部分序列。线粒体控制区HVRⅠ共检测到51个变异位点,位点变异率为8.76%;线粒体Cyt b部分序列发现31个变异位点,位点变异率为5.33%,未见插入及缺失现象,变异类型全部为碱基置换。共定义了16个线粒体HVRⅠ单倍型,其中吉林与内蒙种群存在共享单倍型,估计这两地间种群亲缘关系较近。4个地理种群中新疆种群拥有较高的遗传多样性(0.94)。中国狼种群总体平均核苷酸多态性为2.27%,与世界其他国家地区相比,中国狼种群拥有相对较高的遗传多样性。通过线粒体HVRⅠ单倍型构建的系统进化树可以看出,中国狼在进化上分为2大支,其中位于青藏高原的青海种群独立为一支,推测其可能长期作为独立种群进化。基于青海种群与新疆,内蒙种群的线粒体Cyt b遗传距离,推测中国狼2个世系可能在更新世冰川时期青藏高原受地质作用急速隆起后出现分歧,分歧时间大约在1.1 MY前。     

云南中缅树鼩线粒体细胞色素b和D-loop区遗传多样性研究

对3个地方种群的49只样本的线粒体Cyt b基因全序列（1140 bp）及33只样本的控制区D-loop基因区段（745 bp）进行了序列测定。结果表明：Cyt b基因多态性位点有47个,其中单变异位点位点23个,简约信息位点24个。共定义了24个单倍型,其中种群间的共享单倍型有2个（8.33%）,其余均为某个种群所特有,单倍型多样度范围为0.80952（剑川种群）~0.91532（禄劝种群）,核苷酸多样度指数介于0.00326（禄劝种群）~0.00635（剑川种群）之间;D-loop基因多态性位点有18个,其中单变异位点8个,简约信息位点10个。共定义了16个单倍型,无种群间的共享单倍型,单倍型多样度范围为0.76615（禄劝种群）~0.93333（丽江种群）,核苷酸多样度指数介于0.00269（禄劝种群）~0.00583（丽江种群）之间。从各单倍型的TCS网络进化图显示横断山种群位于分支的末端,表现出中缅树鼩由南向北的扩散模式,支持＂岛屿起源＂假说。     

闽浙地区香鱼线粒体Cyt b基因和D-loop区序列多态性分析

对浙江瑞安、福建宁德、福建东张水库3个地理群体共31例香鱼(Plecoglossus altivelis)的线粒体细胞色素b(Cyt b)基因和线粒体D-loop区序列进行了PCR扩增、序列测定、核苷酸组成和多态性分析。Cyt b基因中, A、T、C和G 4种核苷酸的比例分别为19.72%、29.71%、32.25%和18.32%, A + T含量为49.43%, G + C含量为50.57%。D-loop区序列中, A、T、C和G 4种核苷酸的比例分别为29.99%、29.29%、23.80%和16.92%, A + T含量为59.28%, G + C含量为40.72%。在长度为1 141 bp的Cyt b基因序列中, 仅存在1个变异位点, 核苷酸多样性指数(π值)为0.00028, 31个样本中仅出现两种单倍型; 857 bp长的D-loop区序列中, 仅存在5个变异位点, 核苷酸多样性指数(π值)为0.00199, 仅出现5种单倍型。这表明闽浙地区香鱼的遗传多样性水平很低, 应当加大对香鱼的保护力度。     

云南4个地区高山姬鼠线粒体细胞色素b遗传分化的研究

基于云南昆明、中甸、丽江和剑川4个种群(n=43)的线粒体细胞色素b(Cyt b)基因全序列的遗传变异分析,探讨了该地区高山姬鼠种群的遗传分化。在1 140 bp Cyt b基因序列中,有50个变异位点(占全变异的4.38%),定义了22个单倍型。在4个种群中,昆明种群单倍型多样性和核苷酸多样性最高。分子变异分析表明,种群间的遗传变异占30.2%,种群内的遗传变异占69.8%。FST分析表明,除中甸种群和丽江种群之间差异不显著(P>0.05),其它种群间的差异均极显著(P<0.01)。22个单倍型在系统发生树中明显聚为两支(A和B),进化网络关系显示昆明种群处于进化分支最末端,推测种群进化方向可能从横断山地区到昆明地区,支持了姬鼠属从北向南扩散的理论。     

大石鸡兰州亚种的mtDNA种群遗传结构、单倍型分布和遗传多样性

大石鸡(Alectorismagna)是中国西北部的特有种。我们测定了大石鸡兰州亚种(A.m.lanzhouensis)8个地理种群106个样本的线粒体DNA控制区5′端458bp序列,研究其种群遗传结构和遗传多样性。27个变异位点共确定25种单倍型,其中单倍型M2广泛分布,而许多单倍型为一些地方种群特有。单倍型分布沿着南北方向变化,存在明显的地理结构。8个种群中核苷酸多样性最高的是定西种群,0.0069,最低的是海原种群,0.0028;单倍型多样性最高的是武山种群,0.86,最低的是北道种群,0.52。北方种群比南方种群具有更高的遗传多样性。系统发生树和单倍型分布表明,大石鸡兰州亚种存在两个明显的分支。溯祖理论、更新世冰期和花粉支持兰州亚种起源于兰州盆地,这个盆地是其遗传多样性的中心。     

基于线粒体细胞色素b基因的中国大沙鼠系统地理格局

通过内蒙、新疆、甘肃的41个大沙鼠样品和1个伊朗撒拉克大沙鼠的mtDNA Cytb基因全序列的遗传分析,对我国大沙鼠(Rhombomys opimus)的分子系统地理学进行了初步探讨。结果表明,我国41个大沙鼠样品的Cytb基因包含了50个核苷酸变异位点(占全序列的4.39%),其中转换48个,颠换2个,共定义23个单倍型。在四个地理种群中,内蒙古中部半荒漠区和阿拉善荒漠区的单倍型多样性最高,甘新荒漠区的单倍型多样性最低;北疆荒漠区的核苷酸多样性最高,内蒙古中部半荒漠区的核苷酸多样性最低。分子变异分析(AMOVA)表明,种群间的遗传变异占51.68%,种群内的遗传变异占48.32%。FST统计结果表明,除内蒙古中部半荒漠区与阿拉善荒漠区地理种群之间差异显著外(P<0.05),其它地理种群间的差异均极显著(P<0.01)。基于单倍型的系统树显示,42只大沙鼠形成三支。其中,伊朗撒拉克地区大沙鼠和中国地区大沙鼠之间的亲缘关系比中国两支大沙鼠之间的亲缘关系远;分析表明,中国分布的大沙鼠两支之间分歧时间估计在0.093Ma前。嵌套支分析表明,大沙鼠历史种群曾发生过异域片段化、受阻碍基因流和持续种群扩张事件。种群扩张分析提示大沙鼠在0.0119Ma前曾经历过一次种群扩张事件,种群可能受到末次冰期波动的影响。     

栗背短脚鹎的种群分化与遗传多样性

栗背短脚鹎(Hemixos castanonotus)是我国南方山区常见的杂食性鸟类。为探明其遗传多样性及分化现状,采用线粒体Cyt b基因和7个核基因非编码区片段作为分子标记,对分布于广东、广西、海南、贵州和江西五省(自治区)的栗背短脚鹎11个地理种群进行了遗传分化及遗传多样性研究。基于所获得的Cyt b基因866 bp和7个核基因内含子序列6 808 bp进行分析。结果显示,在Cyt b基因中,共检测到37个单倍型,共享单倍型占单倍型总数的35.6%,推测这些共享单倍型可能属于祖先单倍型。分子方差分析结果显示,遗传变异主要来源于种群内部(79.77%)。Tajima’s D和Fu’s Fs中性检验分析结果均支持栗背短脚鹎种群可能曾经历过种群扩张现象。基于7个核基因内含子联合序列的贝叶斯天际线(BSP)分析,推断其种群在大约5.3 ~ 3.7百万年前(Mya)和约0.7 ~ 0.3百万年前(Mya)发生过扩张。基于Cyt b基因的贝叶斯系统发育分析,11个地理种群共分为两支,一支为海南猴猕岭地理种群,属指名亚种(H. c. castanonotus),其他10个地理种群聚为另一支,属H. c. canipennis亚种,并且后者尚未形成显著的地理结构,单倍型网络图分析也获得相似的结果。本研究所用分子数据基本支持两个亚种的分化,对于存在争议的广西南部分布的指名亚种,其分子数据与形态学亚种归属不一致,有待更深入研究。     

马鹿阿拉善亚种遗传多样性和群体结构

马鹿阿拉善亚种（Cervus elaphus alashanicus）又称阿拉善马鹿,目前仅分布于贺兰山地区,是我国马鹿亚种分布范围最狭窄的一个隔离种群。为了解阿拉善马鹿的种群遗传多样性及遗传变异情况,以对该种群的保护提供科学参考,对在贺兰山采集的93个野生个体新鲜粪便样本的线粒体控制区部分序列（991 bp）进行扩增和分析,共检测到68个变异位点,定义16种单倍型,平均单倍型多样性为0.405,平均核苷酸多样性为0.00232,说明种群遗传多样性水平较低。中性检验和错配分布分析表明阿拉善马鹿曾出现过种群扩张,贝叶斯天际线分析（BSP）显示扩张时间约在末次冰盛期（0.028—0.010 Ma）。FST检验表明阿拉善马鹿种群内存在显著遗传分化,系统发育树和单倍型网络图分析表明群体间没有明显的系统地理格局。本研究表明阿拉善马鹿目前种群遗传多样性较低,建议加大对该亚种的关注和保护力度。       

基于线粒体DNA细胞色素b基因和控制区序列分析西藏雅鲁藏布江黄斑褶鮡种群遗传多样性

采用线粒体DNA（mtDNA）Cyt b基因和D-loop控制区为分子标记,对分布于西藏雅鲁藏布江大峡谷以上里龙段和以下墨脱段2个群体的黄斑褶 （Pseudecheneis sulcata）共60个样本进行遗传多样性研究。获得联合基因有效序列长度为1 893 bp,包括Cyt b基因1 060 bp和D-loop控制区833 bp。结果显示,里龙和墨脱2个群体的单倍型多样性值（Hd）均较高（0.701和0.761）,核苷酸多样性值（π）均较低（0.001 00和0.001 09）;高频率的单倍型Hap1和Hap2为2个群体所共享,推测为祖先单倍型;同时,里龙和墨脱群体分别存在5个和6个特有单倍型,且在2个群体中不共享;分子方差分析（AMOVA）显示遗传变异主要来源于种群内部,群体间呈中度遗传分化水平（Fst = 0.090 44,P < 0.05）;中性检验（Tajima''s D、Fu''s Fs）和核苷酸不配对（SSD、Hir）分析结果揭示,黄斑褶 种群曾经历过种群扩张现象。本研究推测,黄斑褶 2个群体间的基因流动存在障碍,雅鲁藏布大峡谷的海拔落差及水文情势等生态屏障可能是阻碍黄斑褶 迁徙和交流的主要原因。     

太湖新银鱼线粒体D-loop和Cytb片段序列结构与进化速率比较

共获得49个太湖新银鱼(Neosalanx taihuensis)个体的线粒体细胞色素b(Cyt b)全序列和控制区(D-loop)部分序列。所测线粒体D-loop部分序列长度变化范围为648～680bp,识别到位于前端的一个串联重复序列、一个终止相关序列(ETAS),3个中央保守区保守序列(CSB-F、CSB-E、CSB-D)及一个保守序列区保守序列(CSB-1),结构与其他鱼类的研究结果类似。太湖新银鱼线粒体Cyt b和D-loop片段的相对进化速率的比较研究结果表明,太湖新银鱼D-loop总的序列多态性位点的比例为0.83%,低于线粒体Cyt b部分总的序列多态性位点的比例(1.31%)。假设太湖新银鱼Cyt b基因平均进化速率相对值为1,贝叶斯(Bayes)MCMC模拟给出Cyt b基因的相对速率区间估计为1.000±0.131,而D-loop基因的相对速率为0.859±0.261,表明太湖新银鱼D-loop基因的进化速率低于Cyt b基因,同时,后验概率分布的变异方差也比较大。说明Cyt b基因比D-loop基因具有相对较高的进化速率,也相对更接近分子钟假设。因此,可以认为Cyt b基因比D-loop基因更适于太湖新银鱼种内及近缘种间相关分子生态及系统地理格局的研究。     

辽东湾斑海豹MHC-DQB 基因的遗传多样性分析

本文从25 份斑海豹样本中获得141 bp 片段,发现21 个变异位点,定义了12 个MHC-DQB 等位基因,氨基酸变异率为25.5% 。等位基因之间的遗传距离范围是0. 0071 ～ 0.1064,平均值为0.0577,不同等位基因之间的碱基差异是1 ～ 15 bp,平均差异数为8 bp。与其他鳍足类动物对比后发现,斑海豹MHC-DQB 表现出较丰富的多态性。非同义替换率明显高于同义替换率,由此造成的氨基酸替换集中在肽结合位点PBR 附近,表明DQB 基因受到强烈的平衡选择作用。11 个样本出现多于两条等位基因的情况,推测存在基因重复现象。     

Single nucleotide polymorphisms and linkage disequilibrium in sunflower

Genetic diversity in modern sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivars (elite oilseed inbred lines) has been shaped by domestication and breeding bottlenecks and wild and exotic allele introgression⁻the former narrowing and the latter broadening genetic diversity. To assess single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) frequencies, nucleotide diversity, and linkage disequilibrium (LD) in modern cultivars, alleles were resequenced from 81 genic loci distributed throughout the sunflower genome. DNA polymorphisms were abundant; 1078 SNPs (1/45.7 bp) and 178 insertions-deletions (INDELs) (1/277.0 bp) were identified in 49.4 kbp of DNA/genotype. SNPs were twofold more frequent in noncoding (1/32.1 bp) than coding (1/62.8 bp) sequences. Nucleotide diversity was only slightly lower in inbred lines (θ = 0.0094) than wild populations (θ = 0.0128). Mean haplotype diversity was 0.74. When extraploted across the genome (~3500 Mbp), sunflower was predicted to harbor at least 76.4 million common SNPs among modern cultivar alleles. LD decayed more slowly in inbred lines than wild populations (mean LD declined to 0.32 by 5.5 kbp in the former, the maximum physical distance surveyed), a difference attributed to domestication and breeding bottlenecks. SNP frequencies and LD decay are sufficient in modern sunflower cultivars for very high-density genetic mapping and high-resolution association mapping.     

松江鲈鱼野生群体遗传多样性的RAPD分析和SCAR标记的转化

首先,从294条10个碱基随机引物中,筛选出32条多态性引物,对富春江、黄河、滦河和鸭绿江等4个松江鲈鱼(Trachidermusfasciatus)野生群体共120尾个体进行RAPD分析。结果表明,松江鲈鱼野生群体的遗传多样性较丰富,其主要表现在:①在扩增得到的591个位点中,有515个(87.14%)位点呈现多态性,群体间多态位点比率(P)的大小顺序为:富春江群体89.17%>黄河群体87.99%>鸭绿江群体86.63%>滦河群体83.25%。②松江鲈鱼群体间的Shannon信息指数(IT)和Nei’s遗传多样性指数(HT)分别在0.3393~0.3566和0.2157~0.2279间,滦河群体的值较其他3群体稍低;若作为一个整体,则总的Shannon信息指数(IT)和Nei’s遗传多样性指数(HT)分别为0.3710±0.2153和0.2336±0.1643。③虽然群体间基因流值(Nm)在5.76103～19.84497间,显示各地理群体间存在程度不同的基因交流,但分子方差分析(AMOVA)结果却表明,各群体间存在显著(P<0.05)或极显著(P<0.01)的遗传分化。④聚类分析表明,鸭绿江群体首先与黄河群体聚为一支,再与富春江群体相聚,最后与单独一支的滦河群体聚类,表明鸭绿江、黄河、富春江等3群体间的遗传距离与彼此间的地理距离远近密切相关,而滦河群体与它们的遗传距离较远。其次,从获得的S1225525bp、S1225605bp、S1225841bp、S1345695bp、S1345825bp等5个特异RAPD条带中,成功地由S1225605bp、S1225841bp条带分别转化出SCAR01560bp、SCAR02443bp的SCAR标记。这两个标记的出现频率,在鸭绿江群体最高(96.67%和93.33%)、富春江群体其次(83.33%和90%)、黄河群体再其次(56.67%和66.67%)、滦河群体最低(13.33%和20%)。因此,SCAR01560bp、SCAR02443bp可作为鉴别松江鲈鱼滦河群体与其他3群体的分子标记。     

Molecular variability in the Celleporella hyalina (Bryozoa; Cheilostomata) species complex: evidence for cryptic speciation from complete mitochondrial genomes

The bryozoan Celleporella has been shown to be composed of multiple, often cryptic, lineages. We sequenced two complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes of the Celleporella hyalina species complex from Wales, UK and Norway (i) to determine genetic divergence at the complete mt genome level, and (ii) to design new molecular markers for examining the interrelationships amongst the major lineages. In addressing (i), we estimated genetic divergence at three levels: (a) nucleotide diversity (π), (b) genome size, and (c) gene order. Genes nad4L, nad6, and atp8 showed the highest levels of divergence, and rrnL, rrnS, and cox1 showed the lowest levels. Inter-genome nucleotide divergence of protein-coding and ribosomal RNA genes, measured as π, was 0.21. The two genomes differed substantially in size, with the Norwegian genome being 2,573 base pairs (bp) longer than the Welsh genome, 17,265 and 14,692 bp, respectively. This difference in size is attributable to long non-coding regions present in the Norwegian genome. Both genomes exhibit similar gene orders, except for the translocation of one transfer RNA (trnA). Considering the high nucleotide diversity, genome size difference and change in gene order, these mt genomes are considered sufficiently divergent to have originated from two distinct species. In addressing (ii) we designed PCR primers that flank the most conserved regions of the genome: 1,300 bp of cox1 and a contiguous 2,000 bp fragment of rrnL + rrnS. The primers have yielded products for tissue from Wales, Norway, New Zealand, Alaska and Chile and should provide useful tools in establishing species- and population-level diversity within the Celleporella complex.     

The complete mitochondrial genome of Calicogorgia granulosa (Anthozoa: Octocorallia): potential gene novelty in unidentified ORFs formed by repeat expansion and segmental duplication

Mitochondrial genomes of many nonbilaterian animals show high diversity of genome size and gene content, revealing many intergenic regions (IGRs), diverse repeats and additional genes. Here we present a new complete mitogenome of the cnidarian sea fan species, Calicogorgia granulosa (Anthozoa: Octocorallia) and its novel genomic features. The 20,246 bp of the complete mitogenome, which is the largest among the nine octocorals sequenced to date, contains 13 protein coding genes, 2 rRNAs and a tRNA within its circular form of mitochondrial DNA. We found an identical segmental duplication (S1 and S2, 913 bp) composed of an ORF (672 bp) coding for a hypothetical protein within which Direct Variant Repeat (DVR) expansions reside in-frame to the coding sequence. Additionally, the duplicated segmental DNA showed no variation in nucleotide sequences both between S1 and S2 and across multiple individual samples. Upon these observations, we discuss plausible causes for the intramitochondrial segmental duplication and the absence of sequence variation, and a need for further investigation of the novel ORF as well. In conclusion the present mitogenome of C. granulosa adds more information to our understanding of the diversity and evolution of mitogenomes of nonbilaterian animals.     

A three-gene phylogeny of the Mycena pura complex reveals 11 phylogenetic species and shows ITS to be unreliable for species identification

Phylogenetic analyses of Mycena sect. Calodontes using ITS previously suggested ten cryptic monophyletic ITS lineages within the Mycena pura morphospecies. Here, we compare ITS data (645 bp incl. gaps) from 46 different fruit bodies that represent the previously described ITS diversity with partial tEF-1-α (423 bp) and RNA polymerase II (RPB1) (492 bp) sequence data to test the genealogical concordance.While neither of the markers were in complete topological agreement, the branches differing between the tEF and RPB1 trees had a low bootstrap (<50) support, and the partition homogeneity incongruence length difference (ILD) tests were not significant. ILD tests revealed significant discordances between ITS and the tEF and RPB1 markers in several lineages. And our analyses suggested recombination between ITS1 and ITS2, most pronounced in one phylospecies that was identical in tEF and RPB1. Based on the agreement between tEF and RPB1, we defined 11 mutually concordant terminal clades as phylospecies inside the M. pura morphospecies; most of them cryptic. While neither of the markers showed an unequivocal barcoding gap between inter- and intraspecific diversity, the overlap was most pronounced for ITS (intraspecific diversity 0-3.5 %, interspecific diversity 0.4 %-8.8 %). A clustering analysis on tEF separated at a 1.5 % level returned all phylogenetic species as Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs), while ITS at both a 1.5 % level and at a 3 % threshold level not only underestimated diversity as found by the tEF and RPB1, but also identified an OTU which was not a phylogenetic species. Thus, our investigation does not support the universal suitability of ITS for species recognition in particular, and emphasises the general limitation of single gene analyses combined with single percentage separation values.     

Pattern of soil methanotrophs on the natural vertical zones of the North Tianshan Mountain

Methane is one of the most important greenhouse gases and plays an essential role in atmospheric chemistry. Knowledge about methanotrophs and their diversity is important to understand the microbial mediation of the greenhouse gas CH₄ under climate change. The methanotrophs is one of main functional microbial groups in soil mediating methane cycles of terrestrial ecosystem. The purpose of this study was to explore spatial distribution pattern of methanotrophs diversity and the major factors affecting soil methanotrophs diversity along an elevation gradient on vertical natural belt of the North Tianshan Mountains, soil samples were collected at six sites in 2010, which were desert grassland belt (H1), Mountain grassland belt (H2), Mountain forest belt (H3), sub-alpine cushion belt (H4), alpine cushion belt (H5), alpine tundra vegetation (H6). Methanotrophs diversity in six sites from the North Tianshan Mountain were assessed with terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP).The carbon–nitrogen ratio was significant difference under different vertical natural belt, ranged from 10.34 to 20.10, soil organic carbon were lowest in alpine tundra vegetation and highest in Mountain forest belt, those numbers of belts ranging from H1 to H3 were increased, with increasing elevation, then H3 to H6 were decreased. The total number of Terminal Restriction Fragments (T-RFs) derived from all those soil samples was 233, indicating high genetic diversity of methanotrophs on vertical natural belt of the North Tianshan Mountains. Microbial communities of T-RFs 55 bp, 242 bp, 376 bp represented the dominant species in sampling sites. However, some of the T-RFs were more sensitive to environment, such as 79 bp, 176 bp and 250 bp. Methanotrophs diversity index and T-RFs numbers were lowest in mountain forest belt and highest in subalpine cushion belt. Along the elevation gradient, the trendency of those numbers are as follows, H1>H2>H3<H4>H5>H6. Cluster analysis revealed that the samples could be separated into two groups, H4, H5 and H6 clustered into one group, while H2 and H3 clustered into other group.The community shifts were further investigated by Principle component analysis (PCA). The first PCA axis, which is related to the main compositional variation, separated the communities of the different sites. The main variation was mainly caused by changes in the relative abundance of the 58 bp, 87 bp, 137 bp, 243 bp and 248 bp T-RFs.Based on canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), Shannon index(H) of methanotrophs was positively correlated with soil pH and C/N ratio and negatively correlated with elevation, content of total nitrogen and total phosphorus; and Simpson index (D) and Evenness (E) were positively correlated with soils’ C/N ratio, soil surface temperature, pH and organic carbon, and negatively with elevation, total nitrogen and total phosphorus; indicating that plant communities and soil nutrients influence the soil microbial structure.Our research showed that soil methanotrophs was high genetic diversity along the elevation gradient on vertical natural belt in the North Tianshan Mountain. Soil microorganisms were positively correlated with vegetation, soils pH, C/N ratio, and soil moisture, total nitrogen, these parameters might be the main factors controlling soil methanotrophs diversity.     

Assessing the use of the mitochondrial cox1 marker for use in DNA barcoding of red algae (Rhodophyta)

The red algae, a remarkably diverse group of organisms, are difficult to identify using morphology alone. Following the proposal to use the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) for DNA barcoding animals, we assessed the use of this gene in the identification of red algae using 48 samples plus 31 sequences obtained from GenBank. The data set spanned six orders of red algae: the Bangiales, Ceramiales, Corallinales, Gigartinales, Gracilariales and Rhodymeniales. The results indicated that species could be discriminated. Intraspecific variation was between 0 and 4 bp over 539 bp analyzed except in Mastocarpus stellatus (0-14 bp) and Gracilaria gracilis (0-11 bp). Cryptic diversity was found in Bangia fuscopurpurea, Corallina officinalis, G. gracilis, M. stellatus, Porphyra leucosticta and P. umbilicalis. Interspecific variation across all taxa was between 28 and 148 bp, except for G. gracilis and M. stellatus. A comparison of cox1 with the plastid Rubisco spacer for Porphyra species revealed that it was a more sensitive marker in revealing incipient speciation and cryptic diversity. The cox1 gene has the potential to be used for DNA barcoding of red algae, although a good taxonomic foundation coupled with extensive sampling of taxa is essential for the development of an effective identification system.     

A first insight into peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] SNP variability

Three factors may have reduced the diversity at both individual gene and whole genome levels in cultivated peach: its self-compatible mating system, the narrow genetic basis of most commercial cultivars, and the recent strong selection towards agronomically interesting traits. Previous diversity analyses with markers such as simple sequence repeats (SSRs) have revealed low levels of genetic variability. Here, we sequenced 23 genome-wide distributed DNA fragments in 47 occidental peach varieties, also observing reduced variability levels. On average, there was one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) every 598 bp and one indel every 4,189 bp. As expected, variability was higher in non-coding than in coding regions (one SNP every 390 non-coding bp versus one in 1,850 bp in coding DNA). In general, SNPs were observed at relatively high frequency, mean minor allele frequency?=?0.225, meaning that a large proportion of the SNPs discovered by sequencing similar germplasm will be useful for other purposes, such as association mapping. The average heterozygosity of the varieties was 0.28, with a low correlation between SSR and SNP heterozygosity. The whole sequence of two candidate genes, a pectate lyase 1 candidate for fruit firmness (CGPAA2668) and a sucrose synthase 1 candidate for sugar content (CGPPB6189), in the 47 varieties revealed that they both may have suffered a process of balancing selection.