Conservation implications of the genetic diversity of Gymnospermium microrrhynchum in Korea

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Gymnospermium microrrhynchum (Berberidaceae) is an ephemeral perennial herb with a limited distributional range in the Baekdudaegan mountain areas of the Korean Peninsula, and is designated a rare plant by the Korean Forest Service. Information about its genetic variation and structure is important for developing successful conservation strategies. To investigate the genetic variation within and among seven G. microrrhynchum populations, random amplified polymorphic DNA data were obtained for 207 individuals. The populations exhibited relatively low genetic diversity: the percentage of polymorphic bands (PPB) ranged from 32.1 to 66.7% (mean = 51.4%) and Nei's gene diversity (H E ) ranged from 0.116 to 0.248 (mean = 0.188). However, genetic diversity at the species level was relatively high (PPB = 98.7%, H E = 0.349). An analysis of molecular variance revealed high differentiation among populations (F ST = 0.6818), but the low gene flow value (N m = 0.117) suggests a low level of gene exchange occurs among populations. Principal coordinates analysis revealed that individuals were separated according to population. The high level of genetic differentiation and restricted gene flow among G. microrrhynchum populations, which resulted from their isolation in alpine areas after the Ice Age, indicates that it is essential to protect and manage all populations, rather than focus on specific populations, in order to maintain the genetic diversity of this species.

Population genetic structure of Gymnospermium scipetarum subsp. eddae (Berberidaceae), an endangered Forest endemic from the Southern Apennines (Italy)

“…Similar results were found for population genetic diversity, where mean H e values resulted almost identical (G. eddae = 0.187; G. microrrhyncum = 0.188). At species level, however, genetic diversity in G. eddae resulted lower (H e = 0.210) than in G. microrrhyncum (H e = 0.349), likely due to the much larger range of the latter species and the genetic differentiation among its populations on the mountains of the Korean peninsula (Lee et al 2016). Gymnospermium microrrynchum is in fact the most isolated species of the genus, from both a geographical and phylogenetic point of view (Loconte and Estes 1989;Barina et al 2017;Rosati et al 2019a).…”

“…Using RAPDs allowed comparing results with those concerning G. microrrhyncum from South Korea, which was investigated with the same primers (Lee et al 2016). As found in G. microrrhyncum, the highest and lowest percentages of polymorphic bands (PPB) in G. eddae were detected with the primers respectively (Table 2).…”

“…The DNA integrity was determined on 1% agarose gel, and the DNA quantity and quality were verified using a NanoDrop® ND-1000 Spectrophotometer (NanoDrop Technologies). Each DNA sample was diluted to 25 ng/µL with double-distilled water before assessing polymorphism using eight RAPD primers (Operon RAPD® 10-mer kit, Sigma-Aldrich) from the A, F, N, O and P series selected on the basis of their reproducible and distinct banding patterns (Lee et al 2016) (Table 2). PCR amplifications were performed in a total volume of 20 µL containing 25 ng genomic DNA, 1 U DreamTaq DNA Polymerase (Thermo Scientific), 2 µL 10X DreamTaq Green Buffer, 1 µL dNTP mixture (2.5 mM each), 2 µL primer (20 pmol) and double-distilled water.…”

“…Both RAPDs and allozymes were successfully used for the only other species of Gymnospermium that has been previously analysed for population genetic structure and conservation biology, G. microrrhyncum (S. Moore) Takht. from South Korea (Chang et al 2004;Lee et al 2016). Hence, knowledge about populations genetic variability in species of Gymnospermium is still very scarce and in need of more studies.…”

Gymnospermium Altaicum (Pall.) Spach (Berberidaceae), an Early Spring Element of Wild Fruit Forests of the Trans-Ili Alatau

“…Moreover, they found that the desert xerophytes of Berberidaceae in southwestern Asia arose as a result of changes in climate aridity at different times; Bongardia separated from its closest relatives after 46.5 ± 3.6 million years, and Leontice separated from Gymnospermium after 10.3 ± 3.2 million years. The genetic diversity of the rare endemic species Gymnospermium micror rhynchum (S. Moore) Takht., which has a limited distribution area in the mountainous regions of the Korean Peninsula, has also been studied to develop successful strategies for its conservation [19]. Some taxonomists continued to revise the size of the genus Gymnospermium at the western border of its range, i.e.…”