The genetics and conservation of Araucaria angustifolia: I. Genetic structure and diversity of natural populations by means of non-adaptive variation in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this study was to generate information relative to the allele distribution and dynamics within and among populations of Araucaria angustifolia, a naturally-occurring conifer in the south of Brazil, being known popularly as "pinheiro-do-Paraná", "araucaria" or pine tree. In order to elucidate the levels and the distribution of the genetic variability, the population's genetic structure and the genetic distance among natural populations of this species with different levels of disturbance in different geographical areas were studied in detail. For this, samples of leaf tissue were collected from 328 adult individuals in nine natural populations in Santa Catarina State. To analyze the samples, the allozyme technique was applied in starch gel electrophoresis (penetrose 13%), with citrate/morfholine buffer. Nine enzymatic systems (PGM, PGI MDH, PRX, SKDH, 6PGDH, ACP, IDH and G6PDH) revealed 15 loci. The analysis provided values for H e and H o of 0.084 and 0.072, respectively. The general average of polymorphic loci was 73% in the species and 26.6% in the studied populations and the allele number per locus was 1.6. Wright's F-statistical estimates indicated the existence of inbreeding in populations (F IS = 0.148) and a low divergence among populations (F ST = 0.044). However, the inbreeding values were variable in different populations. Taken together, the results indicated that the greater part of the genetic variability is contained within populations. The working hypothesis that originally there was greater genetic diversity can be supported by these results which indicate that in the degraded populations the diversity indexes are lower in the degraded populations than those found in better-conserved populations. Thus the fragmentation of the forest followed by "araucaria" exploitation could have contributed to the genetic differentiation expressed through the allele frequency of the studied population.

Patterns of pollen and seed dispersal in a small, fragmented population of the wind-pollinated tree Araucaria angustifolia in southern Brazil

“…Consequently, genetic differentiation among the present population and other neighborhood populations can ; Cockerham and Weir, 1993). These results agree with previous estimates of F ST in A. angustifolia populations (ranging from 0.04 to 0.102) that showed low genetic differentiation and high historic gene flow among populations (Auler et al, 2002;.…”

Genetic Diversity in Aechmea fulgens (Bromeliaceae: Bromelioideae) Revealed by Molecular Markers

“…The results of high within population diversity were in line with several studies with natural plant populations (Auler et al, 2002;Zucchi et al, 2003;Souza et al, 2004;Xiao et al, 2004;Galeuchet et al, 2005;Cavallari et al, 2006). Galeuchet et al (2005) used seven microsatellite loci and detected Fst = 0.02 in Lychnis flos-cuculi L.…”

“…Auler et al (2002) reported a mean of 43% of polymorphic loci and 1.8 alleles per loci in Araucaria angustifolia populations with isoenzymatic markers, and considered the values to be high because these populations had a good conservation `status´ compared to other more degraded populations (20% and 1.4).…”

Biological activities and chemical constituents of Araucaria angustifolia : An effort to recover a species threatened by extinction

“…O. Kuntze (Araucaria brasiliense), popularly known as Paraná pine, Brazilian pine or simply "Araucaria", is the sole native gymnosperm of the Atlantic forest in Brazil and has great economic, cultural and social importance (Auler et al, 2002). Originally, the natural forests of Araucaria covered 185,000 km² in Brazil (Carvalho,1994;Astarita et al, 2003).…”

“…Infusions of the bark are used topically to treat muscular tensions and varicose veins, while the syrup produced from the resin is used for the treatment of respiratory infections. Infusions of leaves are used as emollient, antiseptic, against respiratory infections, rheumatism, fatigue and anemia, and dyes are used for the treatment of wounds and herpes eruptions (Auler et al, 2002;Andrighetti-Frohner et al, 2005;Freitas et al, 2009). In view of the above, this review aims to summarize and evaluate the main findings related to the nutritional and therapeutic uses of A. angustifolia, with special attention to the chemical composition of the preparations.…”