Transferability of nuclear microsatellite markers to the atmospheric bromeliads Tillandsia recurvata and T. aeranthos (Bromeliaceae)

Abstract

The genus Tillandsia L. is the most diversified genus of Bromeliaceae and represents one of the most specialized cases of vascular epiphytism: the 'atmospheric bromeliads.' Such great diversity and ecological specialization make it an interesting model for evolutionary and population genetics studies. Here we report the cross-transferability of SSR markers isolated from other bromeliad species to Tillandsia recurvata (L.) L. and T. aeranthos (Loisel.) Desf., epiphytes with great abundance in both natural and anthropogenic-modified environments, but with contrasting patterns of geographic distribution and mating systems. We tested a total of 27 microsatellite markers and successfully amplified seven polymorphic markers in T. recurvata and T. aeranthos. We then described cross-amplified markers in two populations per species, sampled in both anthropogenic-transformed and natural environments. T. recurvata presented lower allelic richness and heterozygosities, and greater inbreeding coefficient values. Such differences clearly reflect their contrasting mating systems (self-fertilizing in T. recurvata versus self-incompatible in T. aeranthus). The set of cross-amplified microsatellite markers described here will be a helpful tool to address a range of evolutionary and ecological questions.

Transferability of nuclear microsatellite markers to Stigmatodon species: a bromeliad genus endemic to vertical cliffs of inselbergs in Brazil

“…Accordingly, the level of transferability obtained for the species studied here can be considered above average, since 12 of the 24 pairs of primers tested (50%) yielded positive results. Similarly successful results in marker transfer have also been reported for other species of Bromeliaceae (Barbará et al 2007a;Paggi et al 2008;Palma-Silva et al 2009Wöhrmann and Weising 2011;Zanella et al 2012;Goetze et al 2013;Lavor et al 2014;Neri et al 2015;Ferreira et al 2017;Pereira et al 2017;Chaves et al 2018;Godoy et al 2018Godoy et al , 2019Zenk et al 2018). High transferability between species of the same Bromeliaceae subfamily is probably due to the family's large adaptive radiation, leading to low levels of divergence in their DNA sequences (see Palma-Silva et al 2006;Barbará et al 2007b).…”

Surrounded by Concrete: Genetic Isolation of Tillandsia Recurvata L. in an Urban Landscape in South-Eastern Brazil

“…The majority (24 or 80%) of them have discussed epiphyte population genetics in the context of microsatellite marker cross-ampli cation and species biology. The remaining papers (6 or 20%) investigated the population genetics of epiphytes in relation to fragmented landscapes, such as rural sites (Chaves et al 2018(Chaves et al , 2021; Aoki-Gonçalves et al 2020), industrial mining sites (Lavor et al 2014) and modi ed natural forests or reserves (Alcantara et al 2006;Goetze et al 2015). From these six aforelisted papers, contrasting outcomes of landscape fragmentation were reported for epiphyte genetic structure, largely dictated by the variety of taxonomic groups and breeding strategies that have been described.…”

“…From these six aforelisted papers, contrasting outcomes of landscape fragmentation were reported for epiphyte genetic structure, largely dictated by the variety of taxonomic groups and breeding strategies that have been described. For instance, sel ng epiphytes typically showed population differentiation and high inbreeding in fragmented landscapes (Chaves et al 2018(Chaves et al , 2021. In contrast, self-incompatible epiphytes show low SGS and high gene ow, although this connectivity appears to be dependent on an effective pollination strategy (Alcantara et Aoki-Gonçalves et al 2020).…”

“…This taxonomic bias is likely the result of the wide distribution and high abundance of many bromeliad species throughout the Neotropics (Paula et al 2016). More speci cally, Tillandsia recurvata L., has been featured most frequently in fragmentation studies (Chaves et al 2018(Chaves et al , 2021, as well as broader investigations of epiphyte population genetics (Soltis et al 1987;Solózano et al 2010). This concerted focus on T. recurvata may be determined by several key factors.…”

“…Cross-ampli ed microsatellite markers, originally tested byChaves et al (2018) and designed microsatellite loci for Tillandsia recurvata. Primer sequence, annealing temperature, repeat motif, base-pair range, alleles and original source are given.…”