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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2022, Vol. 58 ›› Issue (6): 66-78.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.20220607

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Genetic Differentiation and Demographic History of Cryptomeria, A Relict Plant, in East Asia

Xinyu Li1,Minqiu Wang1,Meiling Yuan1,Ueno Saneyoshi2,Xingtong Wu1,Mengying Cai1,3,Tsumura Yoshihiko3,Yafeng Wen1,*   

  1. 1. College of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology Changsha 410004
    2. Department of Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute Tsukuba 305-8687
    3. Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba Tsukuba 305-8572
  • Received:2021-07-17 Online:2022-06-25 Published:2022-09-24
  • Contact: Yafeng Wen

Abstract:

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the genetic variation, population genetic differentiation, and demographic history of Cryptomeria populations in East Asia, so as to provide a scientific basis for the flora evolution study of East Asia and the conservation of this species genetic resources. Method: Fourteen nuclear microsatellite markers (nSSR) were used to detect the genetic variation of 18 natural (or ancient) populations of Cryptomeria from China and Japan. The level and pattern of genetic differentiation were analyzed, and the demographic history of the populations was simulated by DIY ABC. Result: The results showed that Cryptomeria in East Asia had moderate genetic diversity (Ho = 0.472, He = 0.488), and high genetic differentiation existed among populations (FST = 0.136). Molecular analysis of variance (AMOVA) showed that the genetic variation of Cryptomeria in East Asia was mainly from individuals within the populations (86.37%, P < 0.001). Consistent with the geographic origin, Cryptomeria in East Asia was able to be divided into two geographical populations of C. japonica var. sinensis and C. japonica var. japonica, as well as four lineages including southeast (CHS) and Lushan populations in China (LS), and the sea coast (Ura-sugi) and Pacific coast populations (Omote-sugi) in Japan by STRUCTURE and DAPC analyses. The genetic diversity of C. japonica var. sinensis (Na = 4.571, Ho = 0.442) was lower than that of C. japonica var. japonica (Na = 4.634, Ho = 0.510), but there was high genetic differentiation among populations. The results of the DIY ABC simulation showed that the divergence event of populations and lineages of Cryptomeria in East Asia occurred between 110 000 ~ 340 000 years ago. Conclusion: Affected by the third glacial period of Quaternary (Lushan glacial substage), the effective populations of Cryptomeria in East Asia were decreased rapidly, retreated to the refuges in Southeast China and Southwest Japan, and diverged into two populations (C. japonica var. sinensis and C. japonica var. japonica) with independent evolutionary routes. Our findings suggest that climate change in Quaternary, geographical isolation and human disturbance since Holocene play an important role in the formation of genetic variation pattern of Cryptomeria in East Asia. Compared with C. japonica var. japonica, C. japonica var. sinensis has abundant resources in China, but its genetic diversity is low, natural forest populations are seriously damaged, and scientific and effective conservation is urgently needed.

Key words: Cryptomeria, genetic differentiation, genetic structure, demographic history, microsatellite markers

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