Genetic diversity and conservation insights for Phoebe bournei: A study using EST-SSR molecular markers

Phoebe bournei, also known as “nanmu”, is a tall, evergreen tree in the Lauraceae family, primarily found in China’s Fujian Province and other regions like Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, and Guangdong. Its wood is sought after for its toughness, density, and aesthetic patterns, making it valuable for high-end furniture and architectural uses. However, excessive logging and habitat fragmentation have led to a decline in its natural populations and comprehensive genetic studies on P. bournei have been limited, particularly regarding large-scale analyses across multiple populations.

A study (DOI:10.48130/tp-0024-0039) published in Tropical Plants on 03 December 2024 by Huihua Fan’s and Zhichun Zhou’s team, Chinese Academy of Forestry, helps preserve genetic resources critical for the species’ survival and potential recovery.

The research utilized genetic analysis to investigate the genetic diversity, structure, and differentiation of nine natural populations of P. bournei across China. A total of 16 loci were studied in 460 samples, revealing 150 alleles, with an average of 9.38 alleles per locus. The null allele frequency was low, and polymorphism was high, with an average polymorphic information content of 0.86. Results indicated considerable genetic diversity, with Shannon’s information index averaging 1.67, suggesting substantial variation among populations. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.32 to 0.99, and the expected heterozygosity was higher on average, indicating frequent homozygosity. Notably, gene flow among populations was sufficient (average gene flow=1.51). Genetic differentiation, as revealed by AMOVA (FST=0.162), suggested significant differentiation among populations, with most variation occurring within populations (83.8%). The Mantel test indicated a positive correlation between genetic distance and altitude, implying that altitude influences genetic differentiation more than geographical distance. Further, structure analysis identified two primary genetic clusters, with most individuals showing uniform genetic composition. The neighbor-joining method corroborated this by grouping individuals into two clusters, consistent with the structure results. The Fujian Shunchang population showed the highest genetic diversity (He=0.83) and is considered a key priority for conservation. In contrast, the Chongyi population in Jiangxi, with its small size and high levels of inbreeding, exhibited the lowest genetic diversity (He=0.60). The research also highlighted the impact of altitude on genetic differentiation, with populations at higher elevations showing more distinct genetic differences.

Phoebe bournei, despite the pressures from habitat fragmentation and overharvesting, still exhibits significant genetic diversity, indicating a strong potential for adaptation and genetic evolution. This study’s findings serve as a crucial step towards ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of P. bournei. By focusing on high-diversity populations and understanding the genetic structure, targeted conservation efforts can be implemented to preserve this valuable tree species for future generations.

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References

DOI

10.48130/tp-0024-0039

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.48130/tp-0024-0039

Funding information

This work was supported by the Seed Industry Innovation and Industrialization Engineering Project of Fujian Province (ZYCX-LY-2021005); the Forestry Seedling Technology Research Project Phase VII of Fujian Province (ZMGG-0708).

About Tropical Plants

Tropical Plants (e-ISSN 2833-9851) is the official journal of Hainan University and published by Maximum Academic Press. Tropical Plants undergoes rigorous peer review and is published in open-access format to enable swift dissemination of research findings, facilitate exchange of academic knowledge and encourage academic discourse on innovative technologies and issues emerging in tropical plant research.