Conservation of Primula farinosa in Poland with respect to the genetic structure of populations

Abstract

The bird's-eye primrose (Primula farinosa L.) is an endangered species in Poland. The sole remaining, and critically endangered, population of approximately 300 flowering plants is located in the Beskid Sądecki Mountains (Jaworki, Poland). The genetic investigation was performed using highly variable microsatellite markers on a total of four populations: the Polish population and its three nearest known Slovak counterparts. We hypothesize that the Polish population is a relic of the previously much wider Central European mountain/lowland range and is thus genetically distinct from the rest of the Slovak stock. Clarification of this issue is needed before active protection interventions such as artificial supplementation can be carried out. Our results, particularly those from STRUCTURE Bayesian clustering, showed clear population structure within the dataset: all three Slovak populations were dominated by one genetic group, while the Polish population comprised mostly individuals dominated by the second genetic group. Only limited gene flow was observed between the Polish and Slovak populations. This demonstrates the distinct genetic makeup of the Jaworki population, which is probably the result of prolonged isolation from the rest of the P. farinosa range and admixture of genes from various lineages. Their origin could be determined by including plant material from the rest of the P. farinosa range, i.e., Scandinavian, Baltic, and Alpine/Carpathian locations, in a future study. The immediate practical application of our results is the recommendation that all supplementation interventions to the Jaworki population must be limited to plants produced from locally collected seeds.

Genetic melting pot and importance of long-distance dispersal indicated in the Gladiolus imbricatus L. populations in the Polish Carpathians

“…Populations of the species localized more to the north in Poland seem genetically impoverished in comparison with those occurring in the mountains. Similar results concerning the lowland vs. mountain populations showed studies on forest grass Bromus benekenii 55 and wet meadow Primula farinosa 56 , which could have originated from the glacial refugia, especially those located in the Carpathian refugium 57 .…”

Application of Horticultural and Tissue Culture Methods for Ex Situ Conservation of Endangered Primula farinosa L.

“…Species reintroduction preferably uses plants grown from seeds obtained from a local wild population. This is particularly important when the population features a unique genetic composition, as described for P. farinosa at the site in the Beskid Sądecki (Gajewski et al, 2018).…”

“…Primula farinosa L. is a Eurasian species with a highly irregular range in Europe that spans across southeastern Scandinavia, the plains on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea, and the mountains of Central and Southern Europe (Gajewski et al, 2018;Kaźmierczakowa, 2014). Scattered European lowland locations are of relict character and mostly historic; therefore, in much of its European range, this species is considered to be endangered.…”

“…Another aim of the active conservation project was to strengthen the existing population, to create secondary localities with plants propagated from seeds, and to establish collections at botanical gardens using plant tissue culture tools. A genetic analysis proved that the sole remaining P. farinosa population in Jaworki is genetically distinct from its nearest Slovak counterparts, and thus, all plants used in reintroduction interventions should be produced using only locally collected seeds (Gajewski et al, 2018).…”

Sourcing and Propagation of Pontechium maculatum for Horticulture and Species Restoration

“…It is commonly accepted that the greatest benefit comes from using seeds from the mother population. Such strategy allows keeping an existing and often unique gene pool [ 3 ]. Using local material guarantees keeping beneficial traits of local ecotype, best suited for local conditions.…”