Dataset Information

Cytotype diversity in the Sorbus complex (Rosaceae) in Britain: sorting out the puzzle.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Large-scale ploidy surveys using flow cytometry have become an essential tool to study plant genome dynamics and to gain insight into the mechanisms and genetic barriers framing ploidy diversity. As an ideal complement to traditional techniques such as chromosome counting, the analysis of cytotype diversity in plant systems such as Sorbus provides primary investigation into the potential patterns and evolutionary implications of hybrid speciation.

Methods

Ploidy was assessed by means of relative nuclear DNA content using propidium iodide flow cytometry in 474 Sorbus samples collected from 65 populations in southern Wales and South-West England. Statistical tests were applied to evaluate the utility of this technique to confidently discriminate ploidy in the genus.

Key results

Flow cytometric profiles revealed the presence of four cytotypes (2x, 3x, 4x and 5x), confirming in many cases chromosome counts previously reported and demonstrating cytotype heterogeneity within specific Sorbus aggregates. Diploid cytotypes were restricted to the potential parental species and homoploid hybrids. Most of the samples processed were polyploid. The occurrence of the pentaploid cytotype had previously only been reported from a single specimen; it is now confirmed for two taxa occurring at different sites.

Conclusions

Flow cytometry results obtained have proved useful in shedding light on the taxonomy of several controversial taxa and in confirming the presence of cytoypes which occur at very low frequencies. Notably, the coexistence of several cytotypes in Sorbus populations has probably been facilitated by the overlapping distribution of many of the species studied, which might also explain the high incidence of potential hybrid apomictic polyploids. These results will provide a solid baseline for molecular research aiming to better understand the genetic pathways controlling the formation and establishment of polyploid Sorbus.

SUBMITTER: Pellicer J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3478048 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Cytotype diversity in the Sorbus complex (Rosaceae) in Britain: sorting out the puzzle.

Pellicer Jaume J Clermont Sandra S Houston Libby L Rich Timothy C G TC Fay Michael F MF

Annals of botany 20120823 6

<h4>Background and aims</h4>Large-scale ploidy surveys using flow cytometry have become an essential tool to study plant genome dynamics and to gain insight into the mechanisms and genetic barriers framing ploidy diversity. As an ideal complement to traditional techniques such as chromosome counting, the analysis of cytotype diversity in plant systems such as Sorbus provides primary investigation into the potential patterns and evolutionary implications of hybrid speciation.<h4>Methods</h4>Ploid ...[more]

PMID: 22922587

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Project description:BackgroundSorbus sensu stricto (Sorbus s.s.) is a genus with important economical values because of its beautiful leaves, and flowers and especially the colorful fruits. It belongs to the tribe Maleae of the family Rosaceae, and comprises about 90 species mainly distributed in China. There is on-going dispute about its infrageneric classification and species delimitation as the species are morphologically similar. With the aim of shedding light on the circumscription of taxa within the genus, phylogenetic analyses were performed using 29 Sorbus s.s. chloroplast (cp) genomes (16 newly sequenced) representing two subgenera and eight sections.ResultsThe 16 cp genomes newly sequenced range between 159,646 bp and 160,178 bp in length. All the samples examined and 22 taxa re-annotated in Sorbus sensu lato (Sorbus s.l.) contain 113 unique genes with 19 of these duplicated in the inverted repeat (IR). Six hypervariable regions including trnR-atpA, petN-psbM, rpl32-trnL, trnH-psbA, trnT-trnL and ndhC-trnV were screened and 44-53 SSRs and 14-31 dispersed repeats were identified as potential molecular markers. Phylogenetic analyses under ML/BI indicated that Sorbus s.l. is polyphyletic, but Sorbus s.s. and the other five segregate genera, Aria, Chamaemespilus, Cormus, Micromeles and Torminalis are monophyletic. Two major clades and four sub-clades resolved with full-support within Sorbus s.s. are not consistent with the existing infrageneric classification. Two subgenera, subg. Sorbus and subg. Albocarmesinae are supported as monophyletic when S. tianschanica is transferred to subg. Albocarmesinae from subg. Sorbus and S. hupehensis var. paucijuga transferred to subg. Sorbus from subg. Albocarmesinae, respectively. The current classification at sectional level is not supported by analysis of cp genome phylogeny.ConclusionPhylogenomic analyses of the cp genomes are useful for inferring phylogenetic relationships in Sorbus s.s. Though genome structure is highly conserved in the genus, hypervariable regions and repeat sequences used are the most promising molecule makers for population genetics, species delimitation and phylogenetic studies.

Dataset Information

Cytotype diversity in the Sorbus complex (Rosaceae) in Britain: sorting out the puzzle.

Background and aims

Methods

Key results

Conclusions

Publications

Cytotype diversity in the Sorbus complex (Rosaceae) in Britain: sorting out the puzzle.

Similar Datasets

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