Genetic differentiation in an artificial population of the threatened plantLupinus oreganus(Fabaceae)

Abstract

Reintroduction, supplemental planting for genetic rescue, and the creation of artificial seed production populations are common methods to conserve rare plant species, but empirical studies assessing the effects of artificial selection on genetic diversity are rare. I conducted a retrospective DNA genotyping study on an artificial population (hereinafter Office) of the threatened plant, Lupinus oreganus Heller, to determine whether the process of establishing the Office population facilitated genetic differentiation and if genetic diversity was maintained in the Office cohort. Genotyping indicated that uncommon maternal lineages (cpDNA haplotypes) were selected for in the artificial population and that the Office population was genetically distinct from both seed source patches. Furthermore, despite a small population size of seven individuals, cpDNA haplotype and nDNA simple sequence repeat allelic diversity was maintained in the surviving Office cohort. This study suggests that small artificial rare plant populations may be beneficial for capitalizing on the existing within-population genetic diversity, but they may also select for uncommon allelic diversity and facilitate genetic differentiation.