Do molecular markers reflect patterns of differentiation in adaptive traits of conifers?

Abstract

We have examined patterns of variation of several kinds of molecular markers (isozymes, RFLPs of ribosomal DNA and anonymous low-copy number DNA, RAPDs and microsatellites) and an adaptive trait [date of bud set in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)]. The study included Finnish Scots pine populations (from latitude 60°N to 70°N) which experience a steep climatic gradient. Common garden experiments show that these populations are adapted to the location of their origin and genetically differentiated in adaptive quantitative traits, e.g. the date of bud set in first-year seedlings. In the northernmost population, bud set took place about 21 days earlier than in the southernmost population. Of the total variation in bud set, 36.4% was found among the populations. All molecular markers showed high levels of within-population variation, while differentiation among populations was low. Among all the studied markers, microsatellites were the most variable (He=0.77). Differences between populations were small, GST was less than 0.02. Our study suggests that molecular markers may be poor predictors of the population differentiation of quantitative traits in Scots pine, as exemplified here by bud-set date.

Development and transferability of two multiplexes nSSR in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)

“…A total of 94 % of the loci amplified in the expected size range. Our estimates of the level of heterozygosity are in accordance with the range previously reported for Scots pine (e.g., Karhu et al 1996;Soranzo et al 1998). The levels of heterozygosity in the three studied populations were similar to those reported in the conifer literature (e.g., Morgante et al 1996;Liewlaksaneeyanawin et al 2004;Slavov et al 2004;Echt et al 2011;Parchman et al 2010).…”

Genetic differences between continuous and disjunct populations: some insights from sal (Shorea robusta Roxb.) in Nepal

“…This once more shows that different marker types have very different potential to detect genetic patterns (cf. Karhu et al 1996).…”

Genetic variation at allozyme and RAPD markers in Pinus longaeva (Pinaceae) of the White Mountains, California

“…So far, most comparative studies have used different sets of individuals and/or populations in comparing the utility of allozymes and RAPDs (Karhu et al, 1996;Lee et al, 1997;Aagaard, Krutovskii, and Strauss, 1998;Wu, Krutovskii, and Strauss, 1999). Only a few studies have compared markers using the same samples (Liu and Furnier, 1993;Isabel, Beaulieu, and Bousquet, 1995;Szmidt, Wang, and Lu, 1996;Mitton and Latta, 1997), which is necessary for precise comparison.…”

“…The RAPD technique (Williams et al, 1990) has become an increasingly popular tool in genetic studies (Liu and Furnier, 1993;Chong, Yang, and Yeh, 1994;Isabel, Beaulieu, and Bousquet, 1995;Peakall, Smouse, and Huff, 1995;Apostol et al, 1996;Karhu et al, 1996;Szmidt, Wang, and Lu, 1996;Aagaard, Krutovskii, and Strauss, 1998;Wu, Krutovskii, and Strauss, 1999). The RAPD technique can yield a large number of loci, thereby providing a more representative sample of the genome than is possible with allozymes.…”