Genetic divergence among species of the section Strombocarpa,genusProsopis (Leguminosae)

We studied degree of variability and relationships among populations belonging to five species of the section Strombocarpa of the family Leguminosae, namelyProsopis ferox, P. torquata, P. pubescens, P. strombulifera andP. reptans, by isozyme electrophoresis. The genetic similarity betweenP. reptans andP. strombulifera is high enough for the two to be considered subspecies or geographic races ofP. strombulifera instead of good taxonomic species. As expected these species cluster withP. pubescens, all belonging to series Strombocarpae. This group is different isoenzymatically from the remaining species,P. torquata andP. ferox. Comparison of our results with those obtained earlier for species of the section Algarobia showed that genetic variability in the section Strombocarpa is lower than in the section Algarobia, while the species divergence is much higher. These results suggest different adaptive strategies between these sections.     

Consistency of population genetics parameters estimated from isozyme and RAPDs dataset in species of genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prosopis</Emphasis> (Leguminosae,Mimosoideae)

Genetic variability, population structure and differentiation among 17 populations of 5 species and 2 natural interspecific hybrids of section Algarobia of genus Prosopis were analyzed from data of 23 isozyme and 28 RAPD loci. Both markers indicated that the studied populations are highly variable. P. alba populations in average showed lower values of genetic variability estimates from isozyme data, but this trend was not observed for RAPD markers. The hierarchical analyses of the distribution of genetic variability showed that the highest proportion of variation occurred within populations, the differentiation among species was intermediate and the lowest component was observed among populations within species. The consistency between results from both dataset implies that they are not biased and reflect the actual genetic structure of the populations analyzed. The matrices of Euclidean distances obtained from the two sets of markers were highly correlated according to Mantel test. In both cases the corresponding phenogram and MDS plot tended to cluster conspecific populations while hybrid populations were not intermediate between putative parents. Some disagreements between isozyme and RAPD phenograms were observed mainly in the affinities of hybrid populations. Such inconsistencies might result from reticular rather than dichotomic evolutionary relationships. The phenetic associations retrieved gave no support to the division of the section Algarobia into series.     

First Report on RAPDs Patterns Able to Differentiate Some Argentinean Species of Section Algarobia (Prosopis, Leguminosae)

Prosopis species constitute a very important resource in arid and semiarid regions. Some species of section Algarobia hybridise and introgress naturally in areas of sympatry. According to previous isoenzymatic studies these species have high variability within populations. However, the genetic differentiation among species was very low, and these markers failed to provide diagnostic loci for species recognition. Here we analysed by the RAPD technique natural populations of Prosopis alba, P. ruscifolia, P. nigra, P. flexuosa, and P. vinalillo with the purpose of obtaining markers for species and hybrid identification, by analysing the distribution of genetic diversity within and among species. Genetic variability (H = 0.12-0.26) was similar in all populations. Genetic differentiation among populations (FST = 0.39) was highly significant. Hierarchical analysis of genetic structure performed by Wright (1978) method and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that the diversity among populations within species is low (4-13%) and most genetic diversity (54-61%) occurs within populations. The differentiation among species is intermediate (26-42%) between the previous components but highly significant. Five bands provided a tool for identifying any of the species studied, with the exception of P. vinalillo. The difficulty in diagnosing this species is discussed in reference to the hypothesis of its hybrid origin.     

Identification of Prosopis juliflora and Prosopis pallida Accessions Using Molecular Markers

There has been much taxonomic confusion over the identification of Prosopis species, especially where introduced. Prosopis juliflora is the most widespread species in the arid and semi-arid tropics, although it has been confused with other species, particularly the closely related Prosopis pallida. In this study, RAPDs markers were used for the first time to distinguish between these species. Eighteen primers were used in amplification reactions, which yielded an average of 120 bands per accession. A dendrogram showing genetic similarities among accessions was constructed using UPGMA cluster analysis and the Nei and Li similarity coefficient. The genetic similarity observed between P. juliflora and P. pallida is similar to the value in sympatric Prosopis species in North America, and reconsideration of the series rank in section Algarobia is suggested. Species-specific markers confirmed that material in Burkina Faso is P. juliflora, but suggested that material collected in Brazil, Cape Verde and Senegal is P. pallida, whereas this has previously been identified as P. juliflora.     

Analysis of variations in RAPD profiles among accessions ofProsopis

The genetic variability among accessions ofProsopis was determined using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles. Similarities of profiles were determined using the algorithm of Jaccard, and UPGMA and neighbour joining trees were generated from the similarity data. The average similarity was highest among the accessions ofP. glandulosa (0.52 ± 0.18) and least in the accessions ofP. juliflora (0.37 ± 0.15), indicating that the latter species has greater diversity among accessions. Our observations suggest that RAPD analysis could help in identifying genetic variations among different accessions ofProsopis.     

Population Genetic Structure of Astyanax scabripinnis (Teleostei, Characidae) from an Urban Stream

Despite the great anthropogenic interference on urban streams, information is still scarce about the genetic variability and structure of native fish populations inhabiting such streams. In the present study, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to analyze genetic variability and structure of populations assigned to the Neotropical fish species Astyanax scabripinnis from an urban stream located in Londrina, Paraná State, southern Brazil. Thirty individuals of this species were collected from three sites throughout the upper Cambé stream. A total of 10 primers amplified 159 loci, of which 128 (80.5%) were polymorphic. Each of the three populations showed very similar proportions of polymorphic loci, which ranged from 63.5 to 64.8%. Unbiased genetic distances varied from 0.0612 to 0.0646. Theta_p-test values indicated moderate to high genetic differentiation among individuals from different localities. The number of migrants varied from 1.34 to 1.46, suggesting a low gene flow between populations. The genetic similarity among all individuals studied ranged from 0.424 to 0.848. The results suggest that populations of A. scabripinnis in Cambé stream are undergoing genetic differentiation.     

RAPD and microsatellite transferability studies in selected species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prosopis</Emphasis> (section Algarobia) with emphasis on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prosopis juliflora</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. pallida</Emphasis>

The genus Prosopis (Leguminosae, Mimosoideae), comprises 44 species widely distributed in arid and semi-arid zones. Prosopis pallida (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Kunth and P. juliflora (Sw.) DC. are the two species that are truly tropical apart from P. africana, which is native to tropical Africa (Pasiecznik et al. 2004), and they have been introduced widely beyond their native ranges. However, taxonomic confusion within the genus has hampered exploitation and better management of the species. The present study focusses primarily on evaluating the genetic relationship between Prosopis species from the section Algarobia, containing most species of economic importance, though P. tamarugo from section Strombocarpa is also included for comparison. In total, 12 Prosopis species and a putative P. pallida × P. chilensis hybrid were assessed for their genetic relationships based on RAPD markers and microsatellite transferability. The results show that P. pallida and P. juliflora are not closely related despite some morphological similarity. Evidence also agrees with previous studies which suggest that the grouping of series in section Algarobia is artificial.     

Genetic relationships among American species of the genus Prosopis (Mimosoideae, Leguminosae) inferred from ITS sequences: evidence for long-distance dispersal

Aim  The genus Prosopis includes 44 species and has a pseudoamphitropical, disjunct distribution. We aimed to determine whether American Prosopis sections arose in North or South America, and to explain the current distribution of their species on the basis of their genetic relationships.
Location  South-western USA, Mexico, Caribbean Antilles, Peru–Ecuador, central and northern Argentina, south-western Argentina (Patagonia) and Cuyo, south-western Asia and northern Africa.
Methods  Internal transcribed spacer fragments from 21 species of Prosopis were sequenced and the data were used to analyse the phylogenetic relationships using Microlobius and Mimosa as outgroups. Genetic distances were calculated to estimate the degree of divergence. Dispersal–vicariance (DIVA) analysis was conducted to help understand the biogeographical history of the genus.
Main conclusions  The sections Strombocarpa and Algarobia are not monophyletic. Prosopis argentina (section Monilicarpa ) and the species of Algarobia are included in single clade. The phylogeny, DIVA analysis, and the pattern of genetic distances indicate that the ancestral area for the American species was wide, from south-western USA to Central and northern Argentina. Successive vicariance events split this area, and long-distance dispersal episodes (perhaps mediated by birds) led to recolonizations from North to South America, and vice versa .     

Analysis of the genetic similarities among seven species of Prosopis (Leguminosae:Mimosoideae)

Summary Prosopis (mesquite) is a commercially promising plant genus that has received increased attention lately. Allelic frequencies at 25 enzyme loci in seven species from the section Algarobia were transformed in matrices of genetic distance using three methods. The indices give highly correlated results; only in the cluster Prosopis alba -P. hassleri were minor discrepancies evident. The phenetic relationships observed agree with other biochemical evidence (chromatography of phenol compounds, electrophoresis of seed proteins, etc) but not with morphological groupings. The present data support the hypothesis that the species belonging to the section Algarobia would be equivalent to sub- or semispecies; the community of such sympatric subspecies constitutes a syngameon.     

Genetic and morphometric markers are able to differentiate three morphotypes belonging to Section Algarobia of genus Prosopis (Leguminosae, Mimosoideae)

The section Algarobia of genus Prosopis includes promising species for reforestation and afforestation programmes in arid and semiarid regions, mainly of the Americas. Many interspecific natural hybrid combinations have been described in this group. In this paper we analysed a hybrid zone in Chaco biogeographical province in Argentina, where P. ruscifolia and P. alba overlap and hybridise producing intermediate fertile hybrid forms. Eleven morphological traits and 76 loci RAPD were analysed to determine the effect of hybridization between these species. The comparison of morphological traits among groups yielded significant or highly significant differences for all traits. Estimates of H _e in P. alba and P. ruscifolia did not differ from each other, but both showed significantly lower values than the hybrid group. The analysis of correlations between shared phenotypes and pair-wise relationships estimated from RAPD gave also strong support to the hypothesis that most of the phenotypic traits analysed have significant heritability. The analyses of population structure and clustering based on morphological and molecular data by DAPC and STRUCTURE were rather consistent and indicated that the three morphotypes studied here are differentiated with low overlapping. All results indicated that despite the occurrence of natural hybridization and introgression, interspecific gene flow would be limited by hybrid breakdown or natural selection favouring the maintenance of species integrity.     

Differentiation and population subdivision in Picea mongolica based on microsatellite analyses

Picea mongolica is distributed exclusively in the eastern edge of the fixed sand dunes in Hunshandake Sandy Land, China. In this area, three groups of P. mongolica can be identified by their predominant fruit colours (purple, red and green). In this study, we used seven polymorphic microsatellites to investigate the level of genetic variation and differentiation among these groups. A significant level of genetic differentiation was detected in pairwise group comparisons. Pairwise F_ST values ranged from 0.019 to 0.028, indicating, however, a level of similarity among the groups higher than that observed in other species of the Picea genus. Cluster analysis indicated that the three groups analyzed here derived from a single gene pool. We propose that moisture differences in the sand dunes may lead to the observed differentiation in P. mongolica populations, which may be accelerated by habitat fragmentation. The observed genetic differentiation among the three groups of P. mongolica supports their classification as three different ecotypes, namely Picea mongolica f. purpurea, Picea mongolica f. rubra, and Picea mongolica f. viridis.     

Genetic diversity of the endangered Chinese endemic herb Primulina tabacum (Gesneriaceae) revealed by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP)

Primulina tabacum Hance, is a critically endangered perennial endemic to limestone area in South China. Genetic variability within and among four extant populations of this species was assessed using AFLP markers. We expected a low genetic diversity level of this narrowly distributed species, but our results revealed that a high level of genetic diversity remains, both at population level (55.5% of markers polymorphic, H _E = 0.220, I _S = 0.321), and at species level (P = 85.6% of markers polymorphic, H _E = 0.339, I _S = 0.495), probably resulting from its refugial history and/or breeding system. High levels of genetic differentiation among populations was apparent based on Nei’s genetic diversity analysis (G _st=0.350). The restricted gene flow between populations is a potential reason for the high genetic differentiation. The population genetic diversity of P. tabacum revealed here has clear implications for conservation and management. To maintain present levels of genetic diversity, in situ conservation of all populations is necessary.     

Genetic and morphological variation in the Bulbophyllum exaltatum (Orchidaceae) complex occurring in the Brazilian “campos rupestres”: implications for taxonomy and biogeography

The Bulbophyllum exaltatum complex comprises 15 described taxa, and present a number of unresolved taxonomic questions, especially among populations found in the Brazilian campo rupestre vegetation. Allozymes were examined in 33 populations to determine the degree of genetic variability between them and their degree of differentiation to better define the taxa of this group. Additionally morphometric analyses were also performed on representatives of 24 populations. All of the populations examined demonstrated high levels of variability and none of the species formed distinct groups comprising all of the conspecific populations. However, the populations primarily grouped according to their regional occurrence, with a distinction between populations of the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia, which coincided with the geophysical disjunction of the mountain chains where they occur. It is probable that hybridization or incipient differentiation is contributing to the elevated genetic identity observed among the populations, generating a reticulated grouping pattern.     

Genetic diversity of two endemic and endangered Plantago species

Plantago algarbiensis and Plantago almogravensis are two endangered and endemic species from Portugal. Due to the rarity and endangered nature of these species as well as the lack of molecular data, their genetic variation was evaluated using ISSR and RAPD markers. P. algarbiensis species showed higher genetic variability (73.9% of polymorphism) than P. almogravensis (61.2%). The two species revealed a high level of genetic diversity, with a Nei's genetic diversity of 0.1965 and 0.2309 and a Shannon's diversity index of 0.2975 and 0.3520, for P. almogravensis and P. algarbiensis, respectively. A low level of genetic differentiation was observed (Gst = 0.1873) among the species. However, the cluster and PCA analyses, based on genetic similarity, revealed two main, clearly separate clusters, which directly corresponded to the plants isolated from each species. In situ and ex situ measures should be applied in order to preserve both species but, based on these results, P. almogravensis population should be a priority for conservation.     

Genetic variability and interpopulational differentiation of Artemia strains from South America

Seven Artemia samples from three South American countries (Chile, Brazil, Peru) were studied by starch electrophoresis with the aim of comparing levels of genetic variation and genetic similarity to representative populations of A. franciscana (San Francisco Bay, California, USA) and A. persimilis (Buenos Aires, Argentina), which are species endemic to the New World. Based on the analysis of 22 loci, parameters measuring genetic variability were, for some populations, found to be among the highest reported for Artemia so far. The percentage of polymorphic loci varied from 31.8% (Piura, Peru; Buenos Aires) to 50% (Los Vilos and Salar de Atacama, Chile), while the observed heterozygosity varied from 0.025 (Piura) to 0.165 (Los Vilos, Chile). A dendrogram based on Nei's genetic distance (D) produced four major groups. The Argentinian form, A. persimilis; the San Francisco Bay strain together with samples from Brazil (Macau and Rio Grande do Norte) and Chile (Pichilemu and Salar de Atacama); two coastal populations from Chile (Los Vilos and Iquique) and the sample from Peru (Piura). These four groups have inter-group D values that are, in some cases, far above those normally associated with conspecific populations.     

Assessment of genetic diversity of native species in Izu Islands for a discriminate choice of source populations: Implications for revegetation of volcanically devastated sites

In using native species for revegetation, it is necessary choose source populations carefully to reduce the risk of planting suboptimal germplasm. To make preliminary recommendations for native species to use in the revegetation of a volcanically devastated area on Miyake Is., Japan, we investigated the genetic variation of Alnus sieboldiana, Miscanthus sinensis ssp. condensatus, and Polygonum cuspidatum var. terminalis in the Izu Islands and on the Izu Peninsula based on chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) sequence variations and amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs). The amount and pattern of differentiation differ between organelle and nuclear markers, suggesting the necessity of evaluation based on both types of markers. Within-population diversity did not vary among populations, suggesting that it does not need to be considered in the choice of a source population. The pattern and degree of differentiation varied among species, and geographical proximity did not necessarily accord with genetic similarity, suggesting that the site of an appropriate source population varies among species and should be determined empirically rather than by assuming that close proximity predicts genetic similarity. The Izu Peninsula populations deviated from the island populations in all species. Comparison of cpDNA sequences with those of related species indicates the possibility of hybridization with related species on the Izu Peninsula, suggesting that seeds collected from populations where related species live sympatrically should not be used for revegetation. These findings indicate the need to assess the genetic diversity empirically by using organelle and nuclear markers to avoid unintended consequences of genetic mixing associated with revegetation.     

Local adaptation within a hybrid species

Ecological divergence among populations may be strongly influenced by their genetic background. For instance, genetic admixture through introgressive hybridization or hybrid speciation is likely to affect the genetic variation and evolvability of phenotypic traits. We studied geographic variation in two beak dimensions and three other phenotypic traits of the Italian sparrow (Passer italiae), a young hybrid species formed through interbreeding between house sparrows (P. domesticus) and Spanish sparrows (P. hispaniolensis). We found that beak morphology was strongly influenced by precipitation regimes and that it appeared to be the target of divergent selection within Italian sparrows. Interestingly, however, the degree of parental genetic contribution in the hybrid species had no effect on phenotypic beak variation. Moreover, beak height divergence may mediate genetic differentiation between populations, consistent with isolation-by-adaptation within this hybrid species. The study illustrates how hybrid species may be relatively unconstrained by their admixed genetic background, allowing them to adapt rapidly to environmental variation.     

Genetic relationships among South American species of Cunila D. Royen ex L. based on ISSR

Cunila species are among the commonly used South Brazilian plants in popular medicine. This genus presents two centers of distribution in North and South America; the latter being classified into three sections: Incanae, Incisae and Spicatae. Based on the prospective utility as aromatic and medicinal plants, the aim of this work was to examine the genetic diversity among the South American species to contribute to the knowledge of their botanical sections. In this context, 11 Cunila species were analyzed by ISSR using seven primers that generated a total of 107 bands. The relationship was evaluated by constructing dendrograms using the UPGMA algorithm and analysis of principal components. The cluster analysis places the species C. origanoides with the South American species, but forming an independent cluster. Remarkably, among South American species two clusters emerge, one consisting of shrubs and the second by subshrubs species, which refines the botanical taxonomy for several species of the genus.     

A morphometric analysis and taxonomic study of Panax bipinnatifidus Seem. (Araliaceae) species complex from Sikkim Himalaya, India

Cattleya elongata is a rupicolous orchid species spread throughout and endemic to outcrop islands in campo rupestre vegetation of the Chapada Diamantina, northeastern Brazil. We scored nine natural populations of C. elongata for morphological and genetic variability, covering the whole distribution area of the species, using allozymes and ISSR markers and morphometric multivariate analyses. Genetic variability in allozimes was relatively high (H _e?=?0.12?C0.25), and unexpectedly higher than the values based on ISSR (H _e?=?0.16?C0.19). The populations present moderate structuring (allozymes, ??_PT?=?0.14; ISSR, ??_PT?=?0.18) and low inbreeding (allozymes, F _IS?=?0.06). Genetic similarity among the populations was high in both markers, in spite of the discontinuity of the outcrops of the Chapada Diamantina. We found no particular biogeographical pattern to the distribution of the genetic and morphologic similarity among the populations of C. elongata. We found high morphological variability with moderate differentiation among the populations. We did not find any correlation among genetic, morphological, and geographical distances, and among the variability found in the morphological and genetic markers. The differences observed between the two genetic markers and the various morphological markers examined here indicated that the isolated use of any single parameter of these different populations for conservation planning or management would not consider all of the variability to be found in the species, as found in other Brazilian campos rupestres plants.     

Microsatellite analysis of relationships among North American plums (Prunus sect. Prunocerasus, Rosaceae)

Fifteen microsatellite primer pairs developed in sweet cherry and peach were used to explore genetic relationships among North American plums (Prunus section Prunocerasus). In all, 186 putative alleles were detected with a mean value of 12.4 per locus. The Jaccard coefficient of similarity was calculated between all pairs of accessions and their genetic similarities represented by a UPGMA dendrogram. Despite the apparent closeness among native American plums as evidenced by their ability to hybridize freely and their very similar ITS and trnL-trnF nucleotide sequences, all pairs of accessions among the North American plums shared fewer than half of their alleles. Some of the relationships suggested by the UPGMA dendrogram are congruent with current taxonomic hypotheses, but others are difficult to interpret. Further resolution of relationships among American plums will require molecular markers more variable than ITS yet less variable than microsatellites.