Genetic diversity and population structure of the endangered species Paeonia decomposita endemic to China and implications for its conservation

Shi-Quan Wang

doi:10.1186/s12870-020-02682-z

Abstract

BackgroundPaeonia decomposita, endemic to China, has important ornamental, medicinal, and economic value and is regarded as an endangered plant. The genetic diversity and population structure have seldom been described. A conservation management plan is not currently available.ResultsIn the present study, 16 pairs of simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers were used to evaluate the genetic diversity and population structure. A total of 122 alleles were obtained with a mean of 7.625 alleles per locus. The expected heterozygosity (He) varied from 0.043 to 0.901 (mean 0.492) in 16 primers. Moderate genetic diversity (He = 0.405) among populations was revealed, with Danba identified as the center of genetic diversity. Mantel tests revealed a positive correlation between geographic and genetic distance among populations (r = 0.592, P = 0.0001), demonstrating consistency with the isolation by distance model. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that the principal molecular variance existed within populations (73.48%) rather than among populations (26.52%). Bayesian structure analysis and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) supported the classification of the populations into three clusters.ConclusionsThis is the first study of the genetic diversity and population structure of P. decomposita using SSR. Three management units were proposed as conservation measures. The results will be beneficial for the conservation and exploitation of the species, providing a theoretical basis for further research of its evolution and phylogeography.

Highlights

IntroductionEndemic to China, has important ornamental, medicinal, and economic value and is regarded as an endangered plant
Paeonia decomposita, endemic to China, has important ornamental, medicinal, and economic value and is regarded as an endangered plant
In situ and ex situ conservation methods should be combined to protect valuable genetic resources. Genetic information from this detailed study has provided first-hand data of the genetic diversity and population structure of P. decomposita, which are beneficial for developing measures to conserve and manage endangered plants

Summary

Introduction

Endemic to China, has important ornamental, medicinal, and economic value and is regarded as an endangered plant. The Moutan section comprises eight species that are native and endemic to China [2] and commonly termed Mudan or tree. Paeonia decomposita Handel-Mazzetti is a species from the Moutan section. It is found principally in the remote mountain areas of northwest Sichuan Province, and is both indigenous and endemic to China, with a sporadic and narrow distribution and small population. Wang BMC Plant Biology (2020) 20:510 size It grows in sparse Cupressus chengiana forests, young secondary deciduous broad-leaved forests, and thickets at an altitude of 2000–3100 m and has 2n = 10 chromosomes. Based on morphological traits and molecular data, they are considered separate species [2, 10, 11]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion