Genetic diversity analysis of Rhododendron aureum Georgi (Ericaceae) located on Changbai Mountain using ISSR and RAPD markers

Abstract

Rhododendron aureum Georgi (Ericaceae) is a perennial alpine shrub endemic to Changbai Mountain in China. We used ISSR and RAPD markers to describe the diversity and genetic structure within and among four natural populations located at different altitudes. DNA from 66 individuals was amplified with ten ISSR markers and seven RAPD markers. High genetic diversity was observed by these two techniques at the species level. The genetic diversity of populations increased with altitudinal gradients from low to high. The coefficient of gene differentiation (G ST 0.3652 in ISSR and 0.2511 in RAPD) and AMOVA analysis revealed that most genetic diversity was distributed within populations (61.96% in ISSR and 70.23% in RAPD). The estimate of gene flow based on G ST was 0.8690 in ISSR and 1.4910 in RAPD. The UPGMA clustering results using ISSR and RAPD showed that all individuals from the same altitude were gathered together, and the two populations (TYD2a and YHLa) from middle altitudes always clustered together. Compared with populations from different altitudes, similar genetic diversity and low genetic differentiation were obtained from populations at the same altitudes, as revealed by ISSR markers. In addition to the reproductive strategy of R. aureum, these data highlight that local environmental conditions may play an important role in shaping the diversity and genetic structure of this species.

Efficacy of RAPD, ISSR and DAMD markers in assessment of genetic variability and population structure of wild Musa acuminata colla

“…Studies also show that genetic variations occurred along elevation gradients because topographical heterogeneity of plants habitat causes substantial changes in the environment (Byars et al 2009;Kumar et al 2014;Ohsawa and Ide 2008). It is also reported that at different altitudes strong isolation of populations may occur due to drastic differences in phenology between higher and lower altitudes and mountain barriers which restricts the gene flow between the populations causing complex and varied genetic variations (Arnaud-Haond et al 2006;Kumar et al 2014;Liu et al 2012). This is also supported by the present study where populations of the plain or sloppy belts of Garo hills exhibit low levels of genetic diversity and are distinct from the populations of the hilly terrain of Khasi, Jaintia and Ri Bhoi districts of Meghalaya, where diversity is higher.…”

A preliminary conservation genetic study ofPittosporum obcordatum(Pittosporaceae), an endemic New Zealand species with a disjunct distribution

“…ISSRs have been previously successfully used to study the genetic variation of species of conservation concern (e.g. George et al 2009;Liu et al 2012;Cires et al 2013;Xing et al 2015), including Pittosporum Banks ex Solander species (Carrodus 2009;Clarkson 2011;Mendes et al 2011;Clarkson et al 2012).…”

Genetic diversity and population structure of Rhododendron simsii (Ericaceae) as revealed by microsatellite markers

“…Species of the genus Rhododendron, one of the most valuable and largest genera of woody plants, are dominant shrubs with frequently narrow distribution in their natural habitats, whose current conservation status need attention (Li et al 2015). However, there are only a few studies of genetic diversity in Rhododendron species carried out with microsatellite markers (Liu et al 2012, Song et al 2012, Sharma et al 2014, Wu et al 2014b, Wang et al 2016. In general, widespread and long-lived plant species tend to possess high levels of genetic diversity, with H E ranging from 0.3 to 0.8 (Takezaki andNei 1996, Wang et al 2013a).…”