The interacting effects of genetic variation in Geranium subg. Geranium (Geraniaceae) using scot molecular markers

Bo Shi,Majid Khayatnezhad,Abdul Shakoor

doi:10.36253/caryologia-1079

Bo Shi, Majid Khayatnezhad + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.36253/caryologia-1079

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Abstract

One of the most crucial aspects of biological diversity for conservation strategies is genetic diversity, particularly in rare and narrow endemic species. Our study is the first attempt to utilize SCoT markers to check the genetic diversity in Iran. We used 115 plant samples. Our objectives were 1) to check genetic diversity among Geranium species 2) Genetic structure of the Geranium 3) Do the Geranium species exchange genes? 4) To detect isolation by distance among the Geranium species. We used traditional morphological and molecular methods to assess genetic diversity and genetic structure in the Geranium species. A total of 129 amplified polymorphic bands were generated across 13 Geranium species. The size of the amplified fragments ranged from 150 to 3000 bp. G. stepporum showed the highest values for the effective number of alleles (Ne = 1.30) and Shannon information index (I =0.35). Significant ANOVA results (P <0.01) showed differences in quantitative morphological characters in plant species. G. sylvaticum showed high genetic diversity. Mantel test showed a significant correlation (r = 0.17, p=0.0002) between genetic distance and geographical distance, so isolation by distance (IBD) occurred among the Geranium species. According to the SCoT markers analysis, G. kotschyi and G. dissectum had the lowest similarity, and the species of G. sylvaticum and G. pratense had the highest similarity. The present study revealed that a combination of morphological and SCoT methods could distinguish the species of Geranium.

Highlights

Genetic diversity helps to understand species characteristics and adaptation strategy in an ever-changing environment and aids in understanding the evolutionary relationship among species (Erbano et al 2015)
This finding indicates that the morphological characteristics examined may distinguish the Geranium species into two main clusters or classes
The morphological characters PCA plot (Fig. 3) clearly divided the species into distinct groups with no ments produced by Start codon targeted (SCoT)-11 & SCoT-17

Summary

Introduction

Genetic diversity helps to understand species characteristics and adaptation strategy in an ever-changing environment and aids in understanding the evolutionary relationship among species (Erbano et al 2015). Several programs have been launched to conserve plant diversity while utilizing and. Given the importance of genetic diversity in conservation strategies and programs, it is necessary to study genetic diversity in plant species, threatened and rare species (Cires et al 2013). Population size is a pivotal factor to fathom genetic diversity because it disentangles the variation in a gene (Ellegren and Galtier 2016; Turchetto et al 2016). Genetic variation and diversity are essential parameters for species survival; usually, individuals cannot exchange genetic materials due to geographical and genetic barriers. Since these individuals have limited gene flow, there is a greater chance of a decline in population size (Frankham 2005)

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