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Marchesini A, Silverj A, Torre S, Rota-Stabelli O, Girardi M, Passeri I, Fracasso I, Sebastiani F, Vernesi C. First genome-wide data from Italian European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.): Strong and ancient differentiation between Alps and Apennines. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288986. [PMID: 37471380 PMCID: PMC10358878 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is one of the most widespread forest trees in Europe whose distribution and intraspecific diversity has been largely shaped by repeated glacial cycles. Previous studies, mainly based on palaeobotanical evidence and a limited set of chloroplast and nuclear genetic markers, highlighted a complex phylogeographic scenario, with southern and western Europe characterized by a rather heterogeneous genetic structure, as a result of recolonization from different glacial refugia. Despite its ecological and economic importance, the genome of this broad-leaved tree has only recently been assembled, and its intra-species genomic diversity is still largely unexplored. Here, we performed whole-genome resequencing of nine Italian beech individuals sampled from two stands located in the Alpine and Apennine mountain ranges. We investigated patterns of genetic diversity at chloroplast, mitochondrial and nuclear genomes and we used chloroplast genomes to reconstruct a temporally-resolved phylogeny. Results allowed us to test European beech differentiation on a whole-genome level and to accurately date their divergence time. Our results showed comparable, relatively high levels of genomic diversity in the two populations and highlighted a clear differentiation at chloroplast, mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. The molecular clock analysis indicated an ancient split between the Alpine and Apennine populations, occurred between the Günz and the Riss glaciations (approximately 660 kyrs ago), suggesting a long history of separation for the two gene pools. This information has important conservation implications in the context of adaptation to ongoing climate changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Marchesini
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP), The National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), The National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Porano (Terni), Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Andrea Silverj
- Centre Agriculture Food Environment, University of Trento, San Michele all’Adige, Italy
- Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Sara Torre
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP), The National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy
| | - Omar Rota-Stabelli
- Centre Agriculture Food Environment, University of Trento, San Michele all’Adige, Italy
- Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Plant Protection Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all’Adige (Trento), Italy
| | - Matteo Girardi
- Conservation Genomics Unit, Research and Innovation Centre- Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all’Adige (Trento), Italy
| | - Iacopo Passeri
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP), The National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy
| | - Ilaria Fracasso
- Forest Ecology Unit, Research and Innovation Centre- Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all’Adige (Trento), Italy
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Federico Sebastiani
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP), The National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy
| | - Cristiano Vernesi
- Forest Ecology Unit, Research and Innovation Centre- Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all’Adige (Trento), Italy
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Identification of DNA Methylation Changes in European Beech Seeds during Desiccation and Storage. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043557. [PMID: 36834975 PMCID: PMC9968092 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Ageing and deterioration of seeds is a major problem for the maintenance of seed quality and viability during long-term storage. Prediction of early stages of seed deterioration in order to point out the plantlets' regeneration time is a major challenge of successful storage. In preserved seeds, damages accumulate within cells at the rate mainly related to their moisture content and temperature of storage. Current research reveals global alterations in DNA methylation in lipid-rich intermediate seeds during desiccation and storage at various regimes covering nonoptimal and optimal conditions. We show for the first time that monitoring of 5-methylcytosine (m5C) level in seeds can be used as a truly universal viability marker regardless of postharvest category of seeds and their composition. For seeds stored up to three years, in varied conditions, moisture content, temperature, and time of storage had significant influence on seedling emergence and DNA methylation (p < 0.05). Similarities among lipid-rich intermediate and orthodox seeds regarding different reactions of embryonic axes and cotyledons to desiccation are newly revealed. Along with previous studies on seeds dramatically different in desiccation tolerance (recalcitrant vs. orthodox), results regarding lipid-rich seeds positioned in-between (intermediate) prove that maintaining global DNA methylation status is crucial for maintaining seed viability.
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