Population genomics study for the conservation management of the endangered shrub Abeliophyllum distichum

Abstract

Natural monuments are IUCN Category III protected areas that play an important role in biodiversity conservation as they provide species refuge and allow species migration. Despite their status, natural monuments are often confined to cultural and fragmented landscapes due to anthropogenic land-use demands. In this population genomic study, we surveyed 11 populations of the endemic shrub Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai (Oleaceae), including five natural monument habitats, covering its range-wide distribution in South Korea. Using 2,254 SNPs as markers, our results showed a mean expected heterozygosity (He) of 0.319, with populations in the central distribution showing significantly higher He than those at the periphery. There was no significant heterozygote deficiency and inbreeding among studied populations overall (FIS = −0.098), except for a single natural monument population (GS-NM147). Population structure and differentiation was moderate to high (FST = 0.196), while recent gene flow between populations appeared weak, which can be attributed to the fragmented distribution and the outcrossing mating system of the heterostylous plant. Based on these findings, we provide suggestions for the population conservation and management of this endangered species.

Population Genomics Study and Implications for the Conservation of Zabelia tyaihyonii Based on Genotyping-By-Sequencing

“…To assess the level of genetic diversity in this species, we compared our results with those of related studies that used a method similar to that used in this study. Our comparison showed that Z. tyaihyonii has lower genetic diversity ( H e = 0.233) than other species of endemic and woody perennials, such as Abeliophyllum distichum ( H e = 0.319) [ 34 ], Tetraena mongolica ( H e = 0.348) [ 39 ] and Rhododendron rex ( H e = 0.54) [ 35 ]. Given these comparisons, the genetic diversity of Z. tyaihyonii can be considered low.…”

“…Protection of trailing-edge populations should be prioritized because the prolonged isolation and successful persistence of such groups suggest their evolutionary potential, which can be useful for the long-term conservation of genetic diversity and phylogenetic history of the species [ 34 , 70 ]. Additionally, isolated populations may accumulate through selective and stochastic processes, the genetic and chromosomal differences that render them independent and distinctive evolutionary entities, and if speciation involves few major changes promulgated by selection and/or genetic drift in small populations, speciation may be relatively rapid, perhaps saltational [ 71 , 72 ].…”

“…Genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) is one of most widely used RRS methods in which the barcode system is improved to allow the discovery of genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with a lower error rate and low cost [ 26 ]. Because of these advantages, the high-throughput SNPs detected by GBS are widely used for genetic diversity analysis in many plant species [ 24 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ].…”

Population genomics of the critically endangered Brazilian merganser

“…To apply genomics in population studies (of multiple individuals), methods were developed to reduce the genomic complexity of data, such as "Genotyping by Sequencing -GBS" 29 . GBS methods have been used to genotype thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) scattered around unknown genomes of many of individuals of different plants 30,31 and animals 32,33 .…”

Methyl jasmonate enhances the anti-inflammatory effects of the adventitious roots in Abeliophyllum distichum by increasing the production of polyphenolic compounds

“…Various studies have reported that this shrub has anticancer, antiinflammatory, antiosteoporotic, antiobesity, and antimelanoma effects (Choi et al, 2017;Eom et al, 2020;Lee et al, 2020;Yoo et al, 2020 and, indicating its potential as a crude drug and dietary health supplement. A. distichum was classified as endangered until 2017 owing to reductions in its population and the land area it occupied (Lee et al, 2022); this became a major limiting factor in its application in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.…”