The African baobab (<i>Adansonia digitata</i>, Malvaceae): Genetic resources in neglected populations of the Nuba Mountains, Sudan

Wiehle, Martin; Prinz, Kathleen; Kehlenbeck, Katja; Goenster, Sven; Mohamed, Seifeldin Ali; Finkeldey, Reiner; Buerkert, Andreas; Gebauer, Jens

doi:10.3732/ajb.1400198

Cited by 28 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Most studies of baobab population structure have focused on microsatellites Larsen & al., 2009;Munthali & al., 2013;Wiehle & al., 2014), plastid DNA (Leong Pock Tsy & al., 2009), or AFLPs ). However, it was previously suggested that A. kilima might be distinct from A. digitata based partly on ITS sequences , leading us to look for evidence of this in a broad sample of specimens.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

One African baobab species or two? Synonymy of Adansonia kilima and A. digitata

Cron

Karimi

Glennon

et al. 2016

TAXON

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We assessed the validity of a recently described baobab species Adansonia kilima that was suggested to be a diploid occurring in both eastern and southern Africa at high elevations within the range of the well‐known tetraploid species A. digitata. We used a combination of phylogenetic analyses and statistical comparisons of various traits (e.g., flowers, stomata, pollen, chromosome counts) to test for the presence of two continental African baobab species. Ordination of the floral features of 133 herbarium specimens from across the natural range of A. digitata, including the putative type of A. kilima and other Tanzanian accessions as previously assigned A. kilima, revealed no distinct clusters of specimens. Likewise, stomatal size and density varied greatly across the specimens examined, with no clear bimodal pattern and no obvious association with altitude. The type specimen of A. kilima was found to have a chromosome number of 2n ≈ 166, showing it to be a tetraploid, like A. digitata. Phylogenetic analysis of the ITS region showed little resolution within the African baobab clade and a lack of distinction between the A. kilima type and A. digitata regional accessions. Among the 13 haplotypes detected, no distinct haplotype representing A. kilima was identified. Based on the data at hand we conclude that A. kilima is neither cytologically nor morphologically distinct and is here reduced to synonymy with A. digitata.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

One African baobab species or two? Synonymy of Adansonia kilima and A. digitata

Cron

Karimi

Glennon

et al. 2016

TAXON

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“…As a consequence of species' tetraploid nature, data analyses were challenging due to the unknown allele dosage of partial heterozygotes. We used a combined approach (see, e.g., Wiehle & Prinz et al, ), by transforming present alleles in a binary matrix to analyze the data in a dominant manner, and by estimating allele frequencies of partial heterozygotes in a codominant manner for population genetic indices based on Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (Hardy, ; Weinberg, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Desert‐like badlands and surrounding (semi‐)dry grasslands of Central Germany promote small‐scale phenotypic and genetic differentiation inThymus praecox

Karbstein

Tomasello

Prinz

2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Environmental heterogeneity among sites can generate phenotypic and genetic variation facilitating differentiation and microevolution of plant populations. Badlands are desert‐like, predominantly vegetation‐poor habitats often embedded in (semi‐)dry grasslands. The desert‐like conditions of badlands demand extreme adaptation of plants, that is, phenotypic modifications in short‐term and/or natural adaptation in long‐term. However, detailed knowledge is missing about both plant phenotypic and genetic differentiation in this unique and widely occurring habitat type. The present study focused on the largest known badlands systems in Central Europe located in the “Drei Gleichen” region, a designated nature conservation area in Central Germany. Locations were suitable for this study in terms of having co‐occurring badlands and (semi‐)dry grassland habitats (sites) occupied by the pioneer plant Thymus praecox. Here, we studied the environmental preferences, morphological and functional trait variation, and genetic variation using microsatellite markers of T. praecox. Results revealed significant, mainly site‐dependent environmental, phenotypic, and genetic differentiation. In general, individuals in badlands are shorter in height and have lower patch sizes (length × width), relative growth rates, and smaller stomata. The PCA additionally unveiled slightly increased leaf robustness, trichome density, decreased stomatal conductance, fewer females, and earlier phenology in badlands. We interpret differentiation patterns as adaptive responses to light, temperature, drought, and nutrient stress conditions supported by reviewed literature. Genetic differentiation was strongest between local badlands and grassland sites, and clearly weaker among locations and between sites (in total) as indicated by GST, AMOVA, PCoA, and population structure. Our study supports the importance of small‐scale microhabitat conditions as a driver of microevolutionary processes, and the population's need for sufficient phenotypic variation and genetic resources to deal with environmental changes. We demonstrated that badlands are an appropriate model system for testing plant response to extreme habitats and that more research is needed on these fascinating landscapes.

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“…The multipurpose tree species Adansonia digitata L., well-known as ‘baobab’, is one of the most important indigenous fruit trees of sub-Saharan Africa, with substantial social and economic importance [1,2]. The tree provides food, medicine and fibre, whereas almost all tree parts, i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, owing to the fact that baobab is tetraploid, the analysis of genetic data and their interpretation requires more scrutiny than with diploid species [10]. Studies on baobab genetic resources have been reported from West African countries such as Benin, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Senegal [5,11,12], while East Africa is represented by studies from Malawi and Sudan [2,13]. In studies from Sudan and Malawi, microsatellite loci developed for A. digitata [14] were applied, while studies from West Africa used amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic diversity and structure of baobab (Adansonia digitataL.) in southeastern Kenya

Chládová¹,

Kalousová²,

Mandák

et al. 2019

R. Soc. open sci.

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Baobab ( Adansonia digitata L.) is an iconic tree of African savannahs. Its multipurpose character and nutritional composition of fruits and leaves offer high economic and social potential for local communities. There is an urgent need to characterize the genetic diversity of the Kenyan baobab populations in order to facilitate further conservation and domestication programmes. This study aims at documenting the genetic diversity and structure of baobab populations in southeastern Kenya. Leaf or bark samples were collected from 189 baobab trees in seven populations distributed in two geographical groups, i.e. four inland and three coastal populations. Nine microsatellite loci were used to assess genetic diversity. Overall, genetic diversity of the species was high and similarly distributed over the populations. Bayesian clustering and principal coordinate analysis congruently divided the populations into two distinct clusters, suggesting significant differences between inland and coastal populations. The genetic differentiation between coastal and inland populations suggests a limited possibility of gene flow between these populations. Further conservation and domestications studies should take into consideration thegeographical origin of trees and more attention should be paid to morphological characterization of fruits and leaves of the coastal and inland populations to understand the causes and the impact of the differentiation.

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The African baobab (Adansonia digitata, Malvaceae): Genetic resources in neglected populations of the Nuba Mountains, Sudan

Cited by 28 publications

References 56 publications

One African baobab species or two? Synonymy of Adansonia kilima and A. digitata

One African baobab species or two? Synonymy of Adansonia kilima and A. digitata

Desert‐like badlands and surrounding (semi‐)dry grasslands of Central Germany promote small‐scale phenotypic and genetic differentiation inThymus praecox

Genetic diversity and structure of baobab (Adansonia digitataL.) in southeastern Kenya

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