Paternity Of Progeny Research Articles

Hatcheries maintain high genetic variation but show shifts in genetic structure of progenies of five endangered riffleshell species (Epioblasma) (Bivalvia: Unionidae) of the eastern United States

Abstract We assessed genetic variation at mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA microsatellites for progeny (i.e., juveniles produced at a hatchery) of five endangered Epioblasma species reared at three hatcheries in the eastern United States. The progeny of Epioblasma aureola, Epioblasma brevidens, Epioblasma obliquata and Epioblasma triquetra showed no loss of mtDNA haplotype diversity relative to broodstock (i.e., wild collected gravid females used to produce juveniles) and wildstock (i.e., individuals sampled in the wild to assess baseline genetic diversity), while progeny of Epioblasma capsaeformis showed no loss relative to broodstock but an ~50% loss relative to wildstock. At DNA microsatellites, mean expected heterozygosities (He) were maintained in wildstock, broodstock and progeny, with the lowest values observed in E. aureola and E. triquetra. Among progeny, values of He and allelic richness (A) at times exceeded those observed in the wildstock and broodstock. Hence, no loss of genetic variation at DNA microsatellites was observed in progeny among species. We documented multiple paternity in progeny of E. aureola, E. capsaeformis and E. obliquata and in part attribute their high He and A to fertilization of broodstock females by multiple males in the wild. We observed significant divergence in FST and D values between progeny to wildstock and progeny to broodstock. Most pairwise comparisons for E. brevidens and E. capsaeformis were significantly diverged, and for E. obliquata, divergence was low but also significantly different, and only for E. aureola was it low and nonsignificant. Our results showed that population genetic structure can develop quickly between progeny and their progenitors in the first generation (F1) of offspring produced from a set of parents and that genetic diversity at mtDNA and nuclear DNA microsatellites was generally maintained in progeny of endangered Epioblasma species reared at three mussel hatcheries utilizing current propagation practices.

Mating System Analysis of Alnus maritima (Seaside Alder), a Rare Riparian Tree

Abstract Effective conservation requires an understanding of the genetic interactions among populations and individuals of a species, particularly those with fragmented, isolated distributions. Alnus maritima (seaside alder) is a rare tree species with an extremely fragmented distribution of highly isolated populations in the Delmarva Peninsula, Georgia, and Oklahoma. We conducted a mating system study to estimate the outcrossing rate, inbreeding coefficient, biparental inbreeding rate, and correlation of paternity in progeny from a Georgia and an Oklahoma population to investigate the effects of isolation on the A. maritima mating system. Data from nine microsatellite loci showed similarly high multilocus outcrossing rates in both populations (tm = 0.94). Individual tree outcrossing rates were also high (tm = 0.873–1.047). There was no significant biparental inbreeding in either population, but there was significantly higher correlated paternity in the Oklahoma population. Results showed the high out...

Potential Inbreeding in a Small Population of a Mass Flowering Species, <i>Xanthorrhoea johnsonii</i> (Xanthorrhoeaceae): Is Your Mother My Father?

Xanthorrhoea johnsonii is a long lived slow growing perennial understorey species, that produces a large quantity of passively dispersed seed every 3 - 5 years. Reproductive maturity is not reached until 20 - 30 years of age. The temporal asynchrony of the flowering event in this population was analogous to geographic isolation through fragmentation. A small population of plants flowering in isolation provided the opportunity to examine outcrossing rates, genetic diversity and the paternity of progeny at a small spatial scale (0.2 ha). The geographic location and physical characteristics of the adult plants were recorded, and both adults and their seed were sampled for genetic analysis. Four microsatellite loci were screened for genetic diversity and spatial structure analysis. A population outcrossing rate was estimated, as well as the number of paternal parents required to resolve the progeny multilocus genotypes. High genetic diversity was found in both adults and progeny with an estimated 97% outcrossing rate. All maternal lines required several paternal contributors, with no evidence of dominant paternal genotypes. Pollen transfer occurred between both geographically close and distant plants.

Using DNA fingerprinting to establish paternity of Asian elephantsElephas maximusborn at Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, Sri Lanka

The Asian elephant Elephas maximus is threatened with extinction unless intensive conservation and captive-breeding programmes are implemented without delay. The success of breeding programmes depends critically on maintenance of genetic diversity within captive populations; hence, the accurate assignment of paternity of progeny is of considerable importance. Determination of paternity from field observations is complicated by the fact that oestrous ♀♀ may mate with more than one ♂. The aim of this study was to use DNA fingerprinting to establish the paternity of three Asian elephant calves born at Pin-nawela Elephant Orphanage, Sri Lanka. DNA was extracted from blood samples taken from the calves, their dams and three putative sires, and fingerprinted using the multi-locus DNA probe 33.15. The sire of each calf was identified unambiguously by comparative analysis of the DNA fingerprints of the calf and dam with those of each bull. Results from a pairwise comparison of band-sharing probabilities confirmed the paternity identification.

Enzyme polymorphisms in Rhizoglyphus robini and R. echinopus and their application in paternity analysis.

Cellulose acetate electrophoresis (CAE) was used to investigate enzyme polymorphism in two congeneric species of Acaridae, Rhizoglyphus robini and R. echinopus. Using homogenates of individual mites, 27 enzymes were examined in two buffers. Five enzymes showed interspecific polymorphism, 15 exhibited intraspecific variation in R. robini and 12 in R. echinopus. Polymorphic PGDH was used to analyse paternity in progeny of R. robini females that had mated with two males. The second male sired on average 67% of progeny. Enzyme polymorphism can be used to study poorly known aspects of acarid mites biology, such as their mating systems and population structure under natural conditions and in stored foods.

Pollen load size, reproductive success, and progeny kinship of naturally pollinated flowers of the tropical dry forest tree Pachira quinata (Bombacaceae)

Several studies have demonstrated, using controlled pollinations, that the number and identity of pollen grains deposited onto a flower's stigma affect the reproductive success of plants. However, few studies have shown this relationship under conditions of natural pollination. Using the tropical dry forest tree Pachira quinata, we evaluated the relationship between the number of microgametophytes per pistil and the number of sires with respect to the production of fruits and seeds in a natural population of Pachira quinata. Our study demonstrates that fruit and seed production are directly related to the number of microgametophytes per pistil in natural populations of P. quinata. Only 6% of the marked flowers developed into mature fruits and 10% of the marked flowers initiated fruits but later aborted them. A mean of 23 pollen grains were required to produce a seed. Flowers with >400 pollen grains on the stigma always developed into mature fruits, whereas flowers that received <200 grains never matured fruits. Half of the pollen grains transferred to a flower stigma germinated and developed pollen tubes to the base of the style. The number of pollen grains on a stigma explained 34% of the variation in seed number per fruit, and the number of seeds produced per fruit is positively correlated with the size of the seeds. The population of P. quinata studied is predominantly outcrossing, and seeds within fruits are sired by one or a few donors. The total seed crop within trees was sired by three to five donors. Our study examined the implications of the variation in size of microgametophyte loads per pistil with respect to the breeding system and the paternity of progeny under natural conditions. The competitive ability of pollen and pollen tube attrition are important factors regulating fruit production in P. quinata.

Fertilization in the sea: are the hazards of broadcast spawning avoided when free–spawned sperm fertilize retained eggs?

In broadcast-spawning marine animals, rapid dilution and short lifespan of sperm following release may impose severely localized patterns of mating. Partial or total failure of external fertilization due to sperm limitation appears commonplace. However, it is not clear to what extent the restrictive kinetics of fertilization in water also constrain mating in animals that release sperm but retain their eggs for fertilization. The compound ascidian Diplosoma listerianum liberates sperm that are dispersed to other colonies and taken in prior to internal cross-fertilization. The fertile lifespan of sperm was found to be long (half-life ca. 8 hours), and a substantial number of fertilizations occurred with 24-hour-old sperm. Fertilizations were obtained from sperm concentrations that would typically produce little or no external fertilization. In a separate experiment, a very small piece of D. listerianum (dry weight less than 2 mg) sired abundant progeny throughout a 3840 l tank. Paternity of progeny in these experiments was confirmed by molecular markers. The same markers were used to extend, to over seven weeks, the known maximum period of storage of exogenous sperm prior to fertilization in this species. The production of only a few thousand sperm at a time by each zooid, poor synchronization of release between zooids, and the existence of many well-spaced exhalant openings in large colonies suggest that D. listerianum is incapable of generating a dense plume of sperm, even close to the source. It is suggested that, unlike external fertilization, successful internal cross-fertilization in D. listerianum is not dependent upon the interception of a dense cloud of gametes just released by a near neighbour. It seems instead that dilute, long-lived sperm can be extracted efficiently from seawater by this suspension feeder, potentially over a period of time. This capability, and other features of the life history, make it unlikely that sperm limitation is an acute problem in this species and comparable taxa, a conclusion with potential significance for expected patterns of mating, sex allocation and gamete attributes in sessile aquatic invertebrates. Variance in reproductive success between individuals due to differences in fertilization rate may be much lower than in broadcast spawners exhibiting external fertilization.

Marker allozyme genes and alleles for differentiation of Populus deltoides, P. nigra, P. maximowiczii, and their interspecific hybrids

Horizontal starch gel electrophoresis of enzymes was used to compare the allelic constitution of individuals of Populus deltoides Marsh., P. nigra L., P. maximowiczii Henry, P. ×canadensis Moench, and F1 progeny of controlled crosses. Forty allozyme loci coding for 12 enzyme systems in root tips were observed. Populus deltoides, P. nigra, and P. maximowiczii were genetically distinct from each other. Each of these species had unique alleles at many loci, and one or two of these species also had some species-specific genes. Populus deltoides, P. nigra, and P. maximowiczii could be distinguished by mutually exclusive or unique alleles at any of the four allozyme loci Aco-2, Lap-1, Lap-2, and Pgi-2. Additionally, allozymes of Pgm-1, 6-Pgd-2, 6-Pgd-4, and 6-Pgd-5 could be used as markers to distinguish P. deltoides from P. nigra and P. maximowiczii, allozymes of Mdh-2, Per-3, Pgm-2, and Pgm-3 to distinguish P. nigra from P. deltoïdes and P. maximowiczii, and allozymes of Got-1, Got-4, and Pgi-1 to distinguish P. maximowiczii from P. deltoides and P. nigra. The observed marker allozyme genes and alleles can be effectively used for discriminating among the three Populus species and their interspecific hybrids, and identification and verification of paternity of progeny of single-pair and interspecific pollen-mix controlled crosses. Biochemical and molecular markers have significance in genetics, breeding, and systematics of these Populus species. Key words: Populus, allozymes, diagnostic genes and alleles, species and hybrid differentiation, enzyme electrophoresis.