The use of molecular techniques to resolve relationships among traditional weaving cultivars ofPhormium

Abstract

Molecular techniques -sequencing of the nuclear internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), and fingerprinting of amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) and intersimple sequence repeats (ISSR) -were investigated for their potential to characterise genetic variation in harakeke (Phormium spp., family Hemerocallidaceae) in New Zealand. ITS showed no variation between species of Phormium. However, both AFLP and ISSR identified genome regions that were polymorphic among intraspecific accessions of Phormium obtained from the National New Zealand Flax Collection. When used as a direct sequencing marker, one AFLP fragment distinguished two major groups of nuclear haplotypes. The partitioning of taxa into these groups was supported by phylogenetic analysis of ISSR fingerprinting profiles. Split decomposition, a network-building technique, was shown to be useful in representing the sorts of relationships present in this study of intraspecific variation. Further sampling of natural populations is required to understand the origins and present-day distributions of these accessions; however, the present results show the usefulness of these methods for addressing such ethnobotanic questions.

Varietal differences and environmental effects on leaves ofPhormiumharvested for traditional Maori weaving

“…Recently McBreen et al (2003) applied molecular techniques to resolve relationships between 61 of the varieties and accessions in the National New Zealand Flax Collection. By fingerprinting of amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) they separated the Collection into two groups of a SplitsTree.…”

Insights into the origin and identity of National New Zealand Flax Collection plants from simple sequence repeat (SSR) genotyping

“…In earlier work, McBreen et al (2003) investigated a range of techniques and used sequenced characterized amplified region (SCAR) data to separate Orchiston and subantarctic accessions into two distinct clusters, although relationships within the groupings remained largely unresolved. More recent genotyping analyses of Phormium have used isozymes (Jesson et al 2006) or AFLP DNA fingerprinting data (Smissen & Heenan 2007;Smissen et al 2008).…”

Biological flora of New Zealand 10.Phormium tenax, harakeke, New Zealand flax

“…Recent Quaternary diversification of the genus, based on genetic ITS results for several P. tenax cultivars and P. cookianum, has been suggested (McBreen et al 2003). Further evidence for the evolution of the genus is provided by the incomplete sterility barrier and hybridisation when they are found together (Cross 1915;Cockayne 1923), although the species are generally found in distinct environments.…”

“…Moreover, Maori cultivators dispersed ramets around the country to provide high quality genetic material for cultivation (Wehi 2006). Preliminary studies of the genetic relationships of valued cultivars have been inconclusive (McBreen et al 2003) but it seems likely that future research will determine their provenance (R. Smissen pers. comm.).…”

“…Recognition of its importance to Maori as a fibre plant has led to further investigations of its cultivation, processing, fibre properties, and genetic variation within the species. an emerging feature is the collaborative research between scientists and Maori weavers into areas of common interest (e.g., Harris & Woodcock-Sharp 2000;McBreen et al 2003;More et al 2003;Harris et al 2005Harris et al , 2007. Moreover, despite the collapse of the Phormium flax milling industry in the early 20th century, there is renewed interest in the potential of P. tenax for future commercial development.…”