Abstract
European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is one of the most important deciduous tree species in Central Europe. The potential of beech to adapt to climate change, higher temperatures, and less precipitation in the summer months is still unknown. Most studies in beech used microsatellite, AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism), or isozyme markers, which have only a restricted potential to analyze adaptation. Only few studies investigated genes probably involved in the adaptation to drought stress and bud phenology in beech. In this study, SNP (single nucleotide polymorphisms) markers were developed in order to analyze adaptation and their technical advantages compared to microsatellites and AFLPs were discussed. Partial sequences of ten candidate genes probably involved in drought stress and/or bud phenology were identified at the genomic level, and SNPs and indels (insertions/deletions) in coding and non-coding regions were analyzed. Plant material was sampled along a precipitation gradient in Germany. In total, 8,145 bp were sequenced and analyzed, 4,038 bp were located in exon and 4,107 bp in intron regions. 63 SNPs and 11 indels were detected, which are differently distributed over the studied gene regions. The nucleotide diversity ranged from 0 to 6.62 (π × 10−3) and is comparable to other tree species, whereas the mean nucleotide diversity (2.64) for F. sylvatica is comparatively low. These results will help to investigate the genetic basis of drought stress and bud burst and to conduct association mapping in natural populations. Furthermore, the detected SNPs can also be used for population genetic studies.
Highlights
Forest tree populations consist of sessile, long-lived organisms which must survive temporally varying environmental conditions that are presently affected by accelerated global climate change
SNP markers were developed in order to analyze adaptation and their technical advantages compared to microsatellites and amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) were discussed
Partial sequences of ten candidate genes probably involved in drought stress and/or bud phenology were identified at the genomic level, and SNPs and indels in coding and non-coding regions were analyzed
Summary
Forest tree populations consist of sessile, long-lived organisms which must survive temporally varying environmental conditions that are presently affected by accelerated global climate change. The presence and maintenance of genetic variation at genes controlling adaptive traits is important for the long-term persistence and stability of forest tree populations in order to survive heterogeneous conditions. Genetic markers are based on the variation of DNA sequences. The sequences of the currently most commonly used genetic markers in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) are not directly observed and are usually unknown. The amplified genomic regions are usually either unknown such as in anonymous AFLPs or are located in non-coding regions of the DNA (most microsatellites). Most of the variation at molecular DNA-based markers is
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