Open AccessInsights into the effect of human civilization on Malus evolution and domestication
Author(s) -
Chen Pengxiang,
Li Zhongxing,
Zhang Dehui,
Shen Wenyun,
Xie Yinpeng,
Zhang Jing,
Jiang Lijuan,
Li Xuewei,
Shen Xiaoxia,
Geng Dali,
Wang Liping,
Niu Chundong,
Bao Chana,
Yan Mingjia,
Li Haiyan,
Li Cuiying,
Yan Yan,
Zou Yangjun,
Micheletti Diego,
Koot Emily,
Ma Fengwang,
Guan Qingmei
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plant biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.525
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1467-7652
pISSN - 1467-7644
DOI - 10.1111/pbi.13648
Subject(s) - domestication , biology , malus , hybrid , genetic diversity , introgression , gene flow , genus , botany , evolutionary biology , genetic variation , gene , genetics , population , demography , sociology
The evolutionary history of the Malus genus has not been well studied. In the current study, we presented genetic evidence on the origin of the Malus genus based on genome sequencing of 297 Malus accessions, revealing the genetic relationship between wild species and cultivated apples. Our results demonstrated that North American and East Asian wild species are closer to the outgroup (pear) than Central Asian species, and hybrid species including natural (separated before the Pleistocene, about 2.5 Mya) and artificial hybrids (including ornamental trees and rootstocks) are between East and Central Asian wild species. Introgressions from M . sylvestris in cultivated apples appeared to be more extensive than those from M. sieversii , whose genetic background flowed westward across Eurasia and eastward to wild species including M. prunifolia , M. × asiatica , M. × micromalus, and M. × robust . Our results suggested that the loss of ancestral gene flow from M. sieversii in cultivated apples accompanied the movement of European traders around the world since the Age of Discovery. Natural SNP variations showed that cultivated apples had higher nucleotide diversity than wild species and more unique SNPs than other apple groups. An apple ERECTA‐like gene that underwent selection during domestication on 15 th chromosome was identified as a likely major determinant of fruit length and diameter, and an NB‐ARC domain‐containing gene was found to strongly affect anthocyanin accumulation using a genome‐wide association approach. Our results provide new insights into the origin and domestication of apples and will be useful in new breeding programmes and efforts to increase fruit crop productivity.