Genetic and demographic aspects of Varronia curassavica Jacq. in a heterogeneous coastal ecosystem.

Marcia P Hoeltgebaum,Alison P Bernardi,Caroline Cristofolini,Tiago Montagna,Willian Vieira,Maurício S Dos Reis,Rafael Candido-Ribeiro,Miguel B Lauterjung

doi:10.1590/0001-3765202020180532

Marcia P Hoeltgebaum, Alison P Bernardi + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202020180532

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Abstract

The restinga is a threatened Brazilian ecosystem and a highly heterogeneous environment. This work aimed to evaluate demographic and genetic aspects of Varronia curassavica and whether environmental heterogeneity can influence the studied population parameters. Three annual evaluations were carried out in an area of restinga in Florianópolis-SC, Brazil. Demographic data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the spatial distribution pattern was calculated by Ripley's K-function and correlated with environmental characteristics. To characterize diversity and genetic structure, eight microsatellite markers were used. This work demonstrated that variations in the distribution of individuals and genotypes can be related to specific environments. Dry lowlands were environments favorable to population development, and flooded lowland and mobile dunes were unfavorable. The fixation indices were distinct between environments, evidencing a tendency toward preferential crosses in favor of heterozygotes. We found absence of spatial genetic structure, indicating that genotypes are randomly distributed and that gene flow may be related to such genetic factors as the presence of autoincompatibility mechanisms. This diversity of environments contributed to the aggregate distribution and is relevant for the maintenance of demographic and genetic processes of the species in restingas, and this aspect should be considered for in situ conservation.

Highlights

Varronia curassavica Jacq. (Boraginaceae) is an important medicinal species widely used in folk medicine and by the pharmaceutical industry owing to its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and healing properties (Lorenzi & Matos 2008, Melo et al 2008, Bolzani et al 2012)
Restingas comprise the entire vegetation complex established in sandy soils of marine origin (Castro et al 2007, Brasil 2016), and they are extremely sensitive and susceptible to environmental disturbances (Falkenberg 1999)
GENETIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC ASPECTS OF Varronia curassavica have experienced a continuous degradation of natural characteristics (Barcelos et al 2012), with a strong reduction in original area (SOS Mata Atlântica 1998, 2012-2013, Rocha et al 2003, Marques et al 2015)

Summary

Introduction

Varronia curassavica Jacq. (Boraginaceae) is an important medicinal species widely used in folk medicine and by the pharmaceutical industry owing to its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and healing properties (Lorenzi & Matos 2008, Melo et al 2008, Bolzani et al 2012). (Boraginaceae) is an important medicinal species widely used in folk medicine and by the pharmaceutical industry owing to its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and healing properties (Lorenzi & Matos 2008, Melo et al 2008, Bolzani et al 2012) It is a perennial subshrubby tetraploid species, insect-pollinated and dispersed mainly by birds (Opler et al 1975, Hoeltgebaum et al 2018), that exhibits self-incompatibility mechanisms, such as heterostyly and protogyny (Hoeltgebaum & Reis 2017, Hoeltgebaum et al 2018). Restingas comprise the entire vegetation complex established in sandy soils of marine origin (Castro et al 2007, Brasil 2016), and they are extremely sensitive and susceptible to environmental disturbances (Falkenberg 1999). The restinga is considered one of the most anthropically threatened ecosystems in the Atlantic Forest (Strohaecker 2008, Barcelos et al 2012)

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