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Singh VK, Ahmed S, Saini DK, Gahlaut V, Chauhan S, Khandare K, Kumar A, Sharma PK, Kumar J. Manipulating epigenetic diversity in crop plants: Techniques, challenges and opportunities. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2024; 1868:130544. [PMID: 38104668 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications act as conductors of inheritable alterations in gene expression, all while keeping the DNA sequence intact, thereby playing a pivotal role in shaping plant growth and development. This review article presents an overview of techniques employed to investigate and manipulate epigenetic diversity in crop plants, focusing on both naturally occurring and artificially induced epialleles. The significance of epigenetic modifications in facilitating adaptive responses is explored through the examination of how various biotic and abiotic stresses impact them. Further, environmental chemicals are explored for their role in inducing epigenetic changes, particularly focusing on inhibitors of DNA methylation like 5-AzaC and zebularine, as well as inhibitors of histone deacetylation including trichostatin A and sodium butyrate. The review delves into various approaches for generating epialleles, including tissue culture techniques, mutagenesis, and grafting, elucidating their potential to induce heritable epigenetic modifications in plants. In addition, the ground breaking CRISPR/Cas is emphasized for its accuracy in targeting specific epigenetic changes. This presents a potent tools for deciphering the intricacies of epigenetic mechanisms. Furthermore, the intricate relationship between epigenetic modifications and non-coding RNA expression, including siRNAs and miRNAs, is investigated. The emerging role of exo-RNAi in epigenetic regulation is also introduced, unveiling its promising potential for future applications. The article concludes by addressing the opportunities and challenges presented by these techniques, emphasizing their implications for crop improvement. Conclusively, this extensive review provides valuable insights into the intricate realm of epigenetic changes, illuminating their significance in phenotypic plasticity and their potential in advancing crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shoeb Ahmed
- Ch. Charan Singh University, Meerut 250004, India
| | - Dinesh Kumar Saini
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Vijay Gahlaut
- University Centre for Research and Development, Chandigarh University, Mohali 140413, Punjab, India
| | | | - Kiran Khandare
- Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing, Mohali 140308, Punjab, India
| | - Ashutosh Kumar
- Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing, Mohali 140308, Punjab, India
| | - Pradeep Kumar Sharma
- Ch. Charan Singh University, Meerut 250004, India; Maharaja Suhel Dev State University, Azamgarh 276404, U.P., India
| | - Jitendra Kumar
- National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, Sector-81, Mohali 140306, Punjab, India.
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Su Y, Liu L, Deng Q, Lü Z, Wang Z, He Z, Wang T. Epigenetic architecture of Pseudotaxus chienii: Revealing the synergistic effects of climate and soil variables. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10511. [PMID: 37701023 PMCID: PMC10493196 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Whether conifers can withstand environmental changes especially temperature fluctuations has been controversial. Epigenetic analysis may provide new perspectives for solving the issue. Pseudotaxus chienii is an endangered gymnosperm species endemic to China. In this study, we have examined the genetic and epigenetic variations in its natural populations aiming to disentangle the synergistic effects of climate and soil on its population (epi)genetic differentiation by using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and methylation-sensitive AFLP (MSAP) techniques. We identified 23 AFLP and 26, 7, and 5 MSAP outliers in P. chienii. Twenty-one of the putative adaptive AFLP loci were found associated with climate and/or soil variables including precipitation, temperature, K, Fe, Zn, and Cu, whereas 21, 7, and 4 MSAP outliers were significantly related to precipitation of wettest month (Bio13), precipitation driest of month (Bio14), percent tree cover (PTC), and soil Fe, Mn, and Cu compositions. Total precipitation and precipitation in the driest seasons were the most influential factors for genetic and epigenetic variation, respectively. In addition, a high full-methylation level and a strong correlation between genetic and epigenetic variation were detected in P. chienii. Climate is found of greater importance than soil in shaping adaptive (epi)genetic differentiation, and the synergistic effects of climate and climate-soil variables were also observed. The identified climate and soil variables should be considered when applying ex situ conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjuan Su
- School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Research Institute of Sun Yat‐sen University in ShenzhenShenzhenChina
| | - Li Liu
- School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Qi Deng
- School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
- School of MedicineGuangxi University of Science and TechnologyLiuzhouChina
| | - Zhuyan Lü
- School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Zhen Wang
- School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Ziqing He
- School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Ting Wang
- Research Institute of Sun Yat‐sen University in ShenzhenShenzhenChina
- College of Life SciencesSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
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Simko I. Differentially methylated genomic regions of lettuce seeds relate to divergence across morphologically distinct horticultural types. AOB PLANTS 2023; 15:plad060. [PMID: 37680204 PMCID: PMC10482144 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plad060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Heritable cytosine methylation plays a role in shaping plant phenotypes; however, no information is available about DNA methylation in cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa), one of the most important leafy vegetables. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) performed on seeds of 95 accessions from eight morphologically distinct horticultural types (Batavia, butterhead, iceberg, Latin, leaf, oilseed, romaine and stem) revealed a high level of methylation in lettuce genome with an average methylation of 90.6 % in the CG context, 72.9 % in the CHG context and 7.5 % in the CHH context. Although WGBS did not show substantial differences in overall methylation levels across eight horticultural types, 350 differentially methylated regions (DMR) were identified. Majority of the 41 pivotal DMR overlapped with genomic features predicted or confirmed to be involved in plant growth and development. These results provide the first insight into lettuce DNA methylation and indicate a potential role for heritable variation in cytosine methylation in lettuce morphology. The results reveal that differences in methylation profiles of morphologically distinct horticultural types are already detectable in seeds. Identified DMR can be a focus of the future functional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Simko
- Crop Improvement and Protection Research Unit, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Salinas, CA 93905, USA
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Agius DR, Kapazoglou A, Avramidou E, Baranek M, Carneros E, Caro E, Castiglione S, Cicatelli A, Radanovic A, Ebejer JP, Gackowski D, Guarino F, Gulyás A, Hidvégi N, Hoenicka H, Inácio V, Johannes F, Karalija E, Lieberman-Lazarovich M, Martinelli F, Maury S, Mladenov V, Morais-Cecílio L, Pecinka A, Tani E, Testillano PS, Todorov D, Valledor L, Vassileva V. Exploring the crop epigenome: a comparison of DNA methylation profiling techniques. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1181039. [PMID: 37389288 PMCID: PMC10306282 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1181039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications play a vital role in the preservation of genome integrity and in the regulation of gene expression. DNA methylation, one of the key mechanisms of epigenetic control, impacts growth, development, stress response and adaptability of all organisms, including plants. The detection of DNA methylation marks is crucial for understanding the mechanisms underlying these processes and for developing strategies to improve productivity and stress resistance of crop plants. There are different methods for detecting plant DNA methylation, such as bisulfite sequencing, methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism, genome-wide DNA methylation analysis, methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing, reduced representation bisulfite sequencing, MS and immuno-based techniques. These profiling approaches vary in many aspects, including DNA input, resolution, genomic region coverage, and bioinformatics analysis. Selecting an appropriate methylation screening approach requires an understanding of all these techniques. This review provides an overview of DNA methylation profiling methods in crop plants, along with comparisons of the efficacy of these techniques between model and crop plants. The strengths and limitations of each methodological approach are outlined, and the importance of considering both technical and biological factors are highlighted. Additionally, methods for modulating DNA methylation in model and crop species are presented. Overall, this review will assist scientists in making informed decisions when selecting an appropriate DNA methylation profiling method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dolores Rita Agius
- Centre of Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
- Biology Department, Ġ.F.Abela Junior College, Msida, Malta
| | - Aliki Kapazoglou
- Department of Vitis, Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture (IOSV), Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DIMITRA (ELGO-DIMITRA), Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelia Avramidou
- Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems, Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DIMITRA (ELGO-DIMITRA), Athens, Greece
| | - Miroslav Baranek
- Mendeleum-Insitute of Genetics, Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel University in Brno, Lednice, Czechia
| | - Elena Carneros
- Center for Biological Research (CIB) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Caro
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Stefano Castiglione
- Department of Chemistry and Biology ‘A. Zambelli’, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Angela Cicatelli
- Department of Chemistry and Biology ‘A. Zambelli’, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Aleksandra Radanovic
- Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Jean-Paul Ebejer
- Centre of Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Daniel Gackowski
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Francesco Guarino
- Department of Chemistry and Biology ‘A. Zambelli’, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Andrea Gulyás
- Centre for Agricultural Genomics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Nyíregyháza, Hungary
| | - Norbert Hidvégi
- Centre for Agricultural Genomics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Nyíregyháza, Hungary
| | - Hans Hoenicka
- Genomic Research Department, Thünen Institute of Forest Genetics, Grosshansdorf, Germany
| | - Vera Inácio
- BioISI – BioSystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Frank Johannes
- Plant Epigenomics, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Freising, Germany
| | - Erna Karalija
- Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Michal Lieberman-Lazarovich
- Department of Vegetables and Field Crops, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Institute of Plant Sciences, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | | | - Stéphane Maury
- Laboratoire de Biologie des Ligneux et des Grandes Cultures EA1207 USC1328, INRAE, Université d’Orléans, Orléans, France
| | - Velimir Mladenov
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Leonor Morais-Cecílio
- Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF), Institute of Agronomy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ales Pecinka
- Centre of Plant Structural and Functional Genomics, Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Olomouc, Czechia
| | - Eleni Tani
- Laboratory of Plant Breeding and Biometry, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Pilar S. Testillano
- Center for Biological Research (CIB) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Dimitar Todorov
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Luis Valledor
- Plant Physiology, Department of Organisms and Systems Biology and University Institute of Biotechnology of Asturias, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Valya Vassileva
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
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Li YS, Liao PC, Chang CT, Hwang SY. The Contribution of Epigenetics to Evolutionary Adaptation in Zingiber kawagoii Hayata (Zingiberaceae) Endemic to Taiwan. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1558. [PMID: 37050184 PMCID: PMC10096833 DOI: 10.3390/plants12071558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
We epigenotyped 211 individuals from 17 Zingiber kawagoii populations using methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP) and investigated the associations of methylated (mMSAP) and unmethylated (uMSAP) loci with 16 environmental variables. Data regarding genetic variation based on amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) were obtained from an earlier study. We found a significant positive correlation between genetic and epigenetic variation. Significantly higher mean mMSAP and uMSAP uHE (unbiased expected heterozygosity: 0.223 and 0.131, respectively, p < 0.001) per locus than that estimated based on AFLP (uHE = 0.104) were found. Genome scans detected 10 mMSAP and 9 uMSAP FST outliers associated with various environmental variables. A significant linear fit for 11 and 12 environmental variables with outlier mMSAP and uMSAP ordination, respectively, generated using full model redundancy analysis (RDA) was found. When conditioned on geography, partial RDA revealed that five and six environmental variables, respectively, were the most important variables influencing outlier mMSAP and uMSAP variation. We found higher genetic (average FST = 0.298) than epigenetic (mMSAP and uMSAP average FST = 0.044 and 0.106, respectively) differentiation and higher genetic isolation-by-distance (IBD) than epigenetic IBD. Strong epigenetic isolation-by-environment (IBE) was found, particularly based on the outlier data, controlling either for geography (mMSAP and uMSAP βE = 0.128 and 0.132, respectively, p = 0.001) or for genetic structure (mMSAP and uMSAP βE = 0.105 and 0.136, respectively, p = 0.001). Our results suggest that epigenetic variants can be substrates for natural selection linked to environmental variables and complement genetic changes in the adaptive evolution of Z. kawagoii populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Shao Li
- School of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, 88 Tingchow Road, Section 4, Taipei 11677, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Chun Liao
- School of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, 88 Tingchow Road, Section 4, Taipei 11677, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Te Chang
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, 1727 Taiwan Boulevard, Section 4, Taichung 40704, Taiwan;
| | - Shih-Ying Hwang
- School of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, 88 Tingchow Road, Section 4, Taipei 11677, Taiwan
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Yang Y, He R, Zheng J, Hu Z, Wu J, Leng P. Development of EST-SSR markers and association mapping with floral traits in Syringa oblata. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 20:436. [PMID: 32957917 PMCID: PMC7507607 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-020-02652-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lilac (Syringa oblata) is an important woody plant with high ornamental value. However, very limited genetic marker resources are currently available, and little is known about the genetic architecture of important ornamental traits for S. oblata, which is hindering its genetic studies. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop effective molecular markers and understand the genetic architecture of complex floral traits for the genetic research of S. oblata. RESULTS In this study, a total of 10,988 SSRs were obtained from 9864 unigene sequences with an average of one SSR per 8.13 kb, of which di-nucleotide repeats were the dominant type (32.86%, 3611). A set of 2042 primer pairs were validated, out of which 932 (45.7%) exhibited successful amplifications, and 248 (12.1%) were polymorphic in eight S. oblata individuals. In addition, 30 polymorphic EST-SSR markers were further used to assess the genetic diversity and the population structure of 192 cultivated S. oblata individuals. Two hundred thirty-four alleles were detected, and the PIC values ranged from 0.23 to 0.88 with an average of 0.51, indicating a high level of genetic diversity within this cultivated population. The analysis of population structure showed two major subgroups in the association population. Finally, 20 significant associations were identified involving 17 markers with nine floral traits using the mixed linear model. Moreover, marker SO104, SO695 and SO790 had significant relationship with more than one trait. CONCLUSION The results showed newly developed markers were valuable resource and provided powerful tools for genetic breeding of lilac. Beyond that, our study could serve an efficient foundation for further facilitate genetic improvement of floral traits for lilac.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunyao Yang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China
- College of Landscape Architecture, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Ruiqing He
- College of Landscape Architecture, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Jian Zheng
- College of Landscape Architecture, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China
- Beijing Laboratory of Urban and Rural Ecological Environment, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Zenghui Hu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China
- College of Landscape Architecture, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China
- Beijing Laboratory of Urban and Rural Ecological Environment, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Jing Wu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China.
- College of Landscape Architecture, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China.
- Beijing Laboratory of Urban and Rural Ecological Environment, Beijing, 102206, China.
| | - Pingsheng Leng
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China
- College of Landscape Architecture, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China
- Beijing Laboratory of Urban and Rural Ecological Environment, Beijing, 102206, China
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Lara MV, Bonghi C, Famiani F, Vizzotto G, Walker RP, Drincovich MF. Stone Fruit as Biofactories of Phytochemicals With Potential Roles in Human Nutrition and Health. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:562252. [PMID: 32983215 PMCID: PMC7492728 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.562252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Phytochemicals or secondary metabolites present in fruit are key components contributing to sensory attributes like aroma, taste, and color. In addition, these compounds improve human nutrition and health. Stone fruits are an important source of an array of secondary metabolites that may reduce the risk of different diseases. The first part of this review is dedicated to the description of the main secondary organic compounds found in plants which include (a) phenolic compounds, (b) terpenoids/isoprenoids, and (c) nitrogen or sulfur containing compounds, and their principal biosynthetic pathways and their regulation in stone fruit. Then, the type and levels of bioactive compounds in different stone fruits of the Rosaceae family such as peach (Prunus persica), plum (P. domestica, P. salicina and P. cerasifera), sweet cherries (P. avium), almond kernels (P. dulcis, syn. P. amygdalus), and apricot (P. armeniaca) are presented. The last part of this review encompasses pre- and postharvest treatments affecting the phytochemical composition in stone fruit. Appropriate management of these factors during pre- and postharvest handling, along with further characterization of phytochemicals and the regulation of their synthesis in different cultivars, could help to increase the levels of these compounds, leading to the future improvement of stone fruit not only to enhance organoleptic characteristics but also to benefit human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Valeria Lara
- Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Claudio Bonghi
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova Agripolis, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Franco Famiani
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giannina Vizzotto
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental, and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Robert P. Walker
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - María Fabiana Drincovich
- Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
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Li YS, Chang CT, Wang CN, Thomas P, Chung JD, Hwang SY. The Contribution of Neutral and Environmentally Dependent Processes in Driving Population and Lineage Divergence in Taiwania ( Taiwania cryptomerioides). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:1148. [PMID: 30135693 PMCID: PMC6092574 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The question of what determines divergence both between and within species has been the central topic in evolutionary biology. Neutral drift and environmentally dependent divergence are predicted to play roles in driving population and lineage divergence. However, neutral drift may preclude adaptation if the rate of gene flow between populations is high. Here, we sampled populations of three Taiwania (Taiwania cryptomerioides) lineages occurring in Taiwan, the mainland of China (Yunnan-Myanmar border), and northern Vietnam, and tested the relative strength of neutral drift and divergent selection in shaping divergence of those populations and lineages. We quantified genetic and epigenetic variation, respectively, using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP). Analysis of 1413 AFLP and 462 MSAP loci using frequency-based genome scan methods and generalized linear models (GLMs) found no potential selective outliers when only Taiwanese populations were examined, suggesting that neutral drift was the predominant evolutionary process driving differentiation between those populations. However, environmentally associated divergence was found when lineages were compared. Thirty-two potential selective outliers were identified based on genome scans and their associations with environmental variables were tested with GLMs, generalized linear mixed effect models (GLMMs), and model selection with a model averaging approach. Ten loci (six AFLP and four MSAP) were found to be strongly associated with environmental variables, particularly monthly temperature variation and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) using model selection and a model averaging approach. Because only a small portion of genetic and epigenetic loci were found to be potential selective outliers, neutral evolutionary process might also have played crucial roles in driving lineage divergence, particularly between geographically and genetically isolated island and mainland Asia lineages. Nevertheless, the vast amount of neutral drift causing genetic and epigenetic variations might have the potential for adaptation to future climate changes. These could be important for the survival of Taiwania in different geographic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Shao Li
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Te Chang
- Department of Geography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Neng Wang
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Philip Thomas
- International Conifer Conservation Programme of the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jeng-Der Chung
- Division of Silviculture, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Ying Hwang
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
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