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Population structure, diversifying selection, and local adaptation in Pinus patula
Author(s) -
Peláez Pablo,
OrtizMartínez Alfredo,
FigueroaCorona Laura,
Montes José Rubén,
Gernandt David S.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/ajb2.1566
Subject(s) - biology , genetic diversity , local adaptation , intraspecific competition , nucleotide diversity , adaptation (eye) , genetic variation , population , ecotype , natural selection , evolutionary biology , biological dispersal , population genetics , pinus patula , genetic variability , ecology , botany , genetics , allele , haplotype , demography , neuroscience , sociology , gene , genotype
Premise Climate change is predicted to affect natural and plantation forests. The responses of conifers to overcome changing environments will depend on their adaptation to local conditions; however, intraspecific adaptive genetic variation is unknown for most gymnosperms. Studying genetic diversity associated with phenotypic variability along environmental gradients will enhance our understanding of adaptation and may reveal genetic pools important for conservation and management. Methods We used target enrichment and genome skimming to obtain single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 61 individuals of Pinus patula , a pine tree native to Mexico widely used in plantation forestry. We investigated the adaptive genetic variation of two varieties with morphological and distributional differences potentially related to genetic and adaptive divergence. Results Population structure and haplotype network analyses revealed that genetic diversity between P. patula var. patula and P. patula var. longipedunculata was structured, even within populations of P. patula var. longipedunculata . We observed high genetic diversity, low inbreeding rate, and rapid linkage disequilibrium (LD) decay in the varieties. Based on outlier tests, loci showing signatures of natural selection were detected in geographically distant P. patula var. longipedunculata populations. For both varieties, we found significant correlations between climate‐related environmental variation and SNP diversity at loci involved in abiotic stress, cell transport, defense, and cell wall biogenesis, pointing to local adaptation. Conclusions Overall, significant intraspecific adaptive genetic variation in P. patula was detected, highlighting the presence of different genetic pools and signs of local adaptation that should be considered in forestry and conservation.