A Survey of Genetic Diversity and Reproductive Biology of Puya raimondii (Bromeliaceae), the Endangered Queen of the Andes

Abstract

Puya raimondii Harms is an outstanding giant rosette bromeliad found solely around 4000 m above sea level in the Andes. It flowers at the end of an 80 - 100-year or even longer life cycle and yields an enormous (4 - 6 m tall) spike composed of from 15,000 to 20,000 flowers. It is endemic and currently endangered, with populations distributed from Peru to the north of Bolivia. A genomic DNA marker-based analysis of the genetic structure of eight populations representative of the whole distribution of P. raimondii in Peru is reported in this paper. As few as 14 genotypes out of 160 plants were detected. Only 5 and 18 of the 217 AFLP marker loci screened were polymorphic within and among these populations, respectively. Four populations were completely monomorphic, each of the others displayed only one to three polymorphic loci. Less than 4 % of the total genomic variation was within populations and genetic similarity among populations was as high as 98.3 %. Results for seven cpSSR marker loci were in agreement with the existence of a single progenitor. Flow cytometry of seed nuclear DNA content and RAPD marker segregation analysis of progeny plantlets demonstrated that the extremely uniform genome of P. raimondii populations is not compatible with agamospermy (apomixis), but consistent with an inbreeding reproductive strategy. There is an urgent need for a protection programme to save not only this precious, isolated species, but also the unique ecosystem depending on it.

Genetic diversity in three natural populations of Pitcairnia flammea (l.) John (Bromeliaceae) estimated by ISSR markers

“…There are some studies on bromeliads in the genera: Aechmea, Tillandsia, Vriesea (Vieira et al, 2013), Alcantarea (Barbará et al, 2008), Bromelia (Zanella et al, 2012), Dyckia (Hmeljevski et al, 2011), Encholirium (Cavallari et al, 2006), Pitcairnia (Domingues et al, 2011), Puya (Sgorbati et al, 2004) and Neoglaziovia (Silveira et al, 2009). Studies reporting the genetic diversity and population structure for Pitcairnia flammea are not yet available in literature.…”

Molecular characterization of elephantgrass accessions through RAPD markers

“…The most common uses of the technique for scientific and commercial purposes include the discrimination among species for post-harvest purposes (HOSOKAWA et al, 2000), identification of crop cultivars to settle lawsuits (CONGIU et al, 2000), marker assisted selection establishment of phylogenetic position of natural populations (SGORBATI et al, 2004;TSUJI & OHNISHI, 2001;VICCINI et al, 2004), certification of lack of polymorphism between in vitro and conventionally propagated plant stands (HAO et al, 2004;LAIA et al, 2000;SALVI et al, 2002), and determination of genetic variation in wild and cultivated populations (BIRMETA et al, 2004;GUSTAFSON et al, 1999;SONNANTE et al, 2002).…”

Genetic variation in the emblematic Puya raimondii (Bromeliaceae) from Huascarán National Park, Peru

“…genetic diversity have been found in other monocots such as Yucca filamentosa, a long-lived, semiwoody, predominantly outcrossing species with a wide geographical range (Massey and Hamrick 1998). Sgorbati et al (2004) discovered that populations of P. raimondii from Huascarán (Peru) had almost no genetic variation, and reported monomorphic populations showing 98.3% genetic similarity; they even suggested inbreeding depression. These results contrast with the 96.3% polymorphism found in the present analysis.…”

“…In general, for plant populations, lack of genetic variation influences adaptation to habitats, rendering them even more vulnerable to anthropic pressure and climate change. It was hipotetized that, due to previous studies in Huascarán (Sgorbati et al 2004), the genetic variation inside the national park will be low, and the values could be higher in neighboring areas.…”

“…Murawski andHamrick 1990, Rex et al 2007). For Puya, the present study was only preceded by two interesting works with different biological units and hypotheses to investigate (Sgorbati et al 2004, Schulte et al 2010. Previous studies in P. raimondii determined the genetic structure of eight Puya raimondii populations in Huascarán-Peru and detected only 14 genotypes (Sgorbati et al 2004).…”