Abstract
Invasive plant species are expected to display high dispersal capacity but low levels of genetic diversity due to the founder effect occurring at each invasion episode. Understanding the history of invasions and the levels of genetic diversity of such species is an important task for planning management and monitoring strategy for these events. Peruvian Peppertree (Schinus molle L.) is a pioneer tree species native from South America which was introduced in North America, Europe and Africa, becoming a threat to these non-native habitats. In this study, we report the discovery and characterization of 17 plastidial (ptSSR) and seven nuclear (nSSR) markers for S. molle based on low-coverage whole-genome sequencing data acquired through next-generation sequencing. The markers were tested in 56 individuals from two natural populations sampled in the Brazilian Caatinga and Pampa biomes. All loci are moderately to highly polymorphic and revealed to be suitable for genetic monitoring of new invasions, for understanding the history of old invasions, as well as for genetic studies of native populations in their natural occurrence range and of orchards established with commercial purposes.
Highlights
The Peruvian Peppertree (Schinus molle L., Anacardiaceae; Figure 1) is a pioneer tree species native from South America and a threat to many environments around the world
We identified and characterized 17 plastidial SSR locus (ptSSR) and seven neutral SSR locus (nSSR) markers for the invasive species S. molle based on low-coverage whole-genome sequencing
The slightly higher differentiation estimated with ptSSRs in comparison to nSSRs may be the effect of a selective sweep over some plastidial genes, affecting all SSR loci linked in the single plastidial chromosome in a genetic hitchhiking process
Summary
The Peruvian Peppertree (Schinus molle L., Anacardiaceae; Figure 1) is a pioneer tree species native from South America and a threat to many environments around the world. This species can flower at any time due to its quick phenological cycle, which makes their seeds available for dispersal throughout the year [1,2]. The reports of this species’ invasion in California [6], Israel [7], Hawaii [8], South Africa [9], Mexico [10] and Italy [11] highlight the urgent need for tools to manage and control its dispersion capacity and large ability to establish in new environments. This scenario may become worse under the current climatic changes, as demonstrated by ecological niche modelling (ENM) of Biology 2018, 7, 43; doi:10.3390/biology7030043 www.mdpi.com/journal/biology (ENM)
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