Multiple markers, niche modelling, and bioregions analyses to evaluate the genetic diversity of a plant species complex

Abstract

BackgroundThe classification of closely related plants is not straightforward. These morphologically similar taxa frequently maintain their inter-hybridization potential and share ancestral polymorphisms as a consequence of their recent divergence. Under the biological species concept, they may thus not be considered separate species. The Petunia integrifolia complex is especially interesting because, in addition to the features mentioned above, its taxa share a pollinator, and their geographical ranges show multiple overlaps. Here, we combined plastid genome sequences, nuclear microsatellites, AFLP markers, ecological niche modelling, and bioregions analysis to investigate the genetic variability between the different taxa of the P. integrifolia complex in a comprehensive sample covering the entire geographical range of the complex.ResultsResults from molecular markers did not fully align with the current taxonomic classification. Niche modelling and bioregions analyses revealed that taxa were associated with different ecological constraints, indicating that the habitat plays an important role in preserving species boundaries. For three taxa, our analyses showed a mostly conserved, non-overlapping geographical distribution over time. However, for two taxa, niche modelling found an overlapping distribution over time; these taxa were also associated with the same bioregions.ConclusionscpDNA markers were better able to discriminate between Petunia taxa than SSRs and AFLPs. Overall, our results suggest that the P. integrifolia complex represents a continuum of individuals from distant and historically isolated populations, which share some morphological traits, but are established in four different evolutionary lineages.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12862-017-1084-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Ecological niche modeling and a lack of phylogeographic structure in Vriesea incurvata suggest historically stable areas in the southern Atlantic Forest

“…The most suitable areas during the LGM occurred in the south and southeast of Brazil, mainly from 23°S to 27°S from the Santa Catarina to São Paulo states (Fig. D), making evident that the appropriate ranges for V. incurvata occupation in the continental shelf during the LGM are now submersed, as similarly observed in other studies (Pinheiro et al., ; Thode et al., ; Leite et al., ; Segatto et al., ). Our V. incurvata results for MH showed that the suitable areas are very similar to those observed in the present (Fig.…”

“…Pearson's correlation between the variables was calculated using the RASTER package. We selected bioclimatic variables with low correlation ( R ≤ 0.75) and that presented a high percentage of importance to the model in a preliminary run (Nakazato et al., ; Segatto et al., ). We used cross‐validation to evaluate the species’ distribution model, using 10 replicates.…”

Development and Characterization of Genic Microsatellites for the Ornamental Plant Green and Gold (Chrysogonum virginianum)

“…Notably, our observations are tentative in character and need to be tested on a large-scale study, possibly involving auxiliary molecular evidence (e.g., sequencing of chosen informative or ''barcoding'' loci; CBOL Plant Working Group, 2009), as well as descriptive taxonomy using the geographical and ecological methods (Duminil and Di Michele, 2009;Reed and Frankham, 2001). Several reports successfully used the Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism as molecular markers neutral in character and of nuclear origin, for plant species delimitation (Chen et al, 2013;Meudt et al, 2009;Segatto et al, 2017) or SSR alike (Chen et al, 2013;Dupuis et al, 2012;Meudt et al, 2009). In particular, the eSSR markers may be of interest due to their conservation and informativeness among the closely related species (Ellis and Burke, 2007).…”

“…In particular, the eSSR markers may be of interest due to their conservation and informativeness among the closely related species (Ellis and Burke, 2007). SSRs also help increase the power of low taxonomic level distinction in agreement with the ''one marker is not enough'' approach (Dupuis et al, 2012;Segatto et al, 2017). The tentative assignment of the commercial cultivar Pierre to the large cluster with samples of vars.…”

Genetic status of the endangered plant species Gladiolus palustris in the western part of its distribution area

“…It has been argued that hybrid populations are not worth conserving because hybridization events may be due to anthropogenic influences such as the introduction of plants and animals, habitat fragmentation and habitat modification (Allendorf et al 2001). The use of molecular methods can help to clarify the taxonomic status of populations of closely related rare plant species (Turchetto et al 2015;Segatto et al 2017).…”