Dataset Information

Low genetic diversity indicating the threatened status of Rhizophora apiculata (Rhizophoraceae) in Malaysia: declined evolution meets habitat destruction.

ABSTRACT: Worldwide, many mangrove species are experiencing significant population declines, including Rhizophora apiculata, which is one of the most widespread and economically important species in tropical Asia. In Malaysia, there has been an alarming decline in R. apiculata populations driven primarily by anthropogenic activities. However, the lack of genetic and demographic information on this species has hampered local efforts to conserve it. To address these gaps, we generated novel genetic information for R. apiculata, based on 1,120 samples collected from 39 natural populations in Peninsular Malaysia. We investigated its genetic diversity and genetic structure with 19 transcriptome and three nuclear microsatellite markers. Our analyses revealed a low genetic diversity (mean He: 0.352) with significant genetic differentiation (FST: 0.315) among populations of R. apiculata. Approximately two-third of the populations showed significant excess of homozygotes, indicating persistent inbreeding which might be due to the decrease in population size or fragmentation. From the cluster analyses, the populations investigated were divided into two distinct clusters, comprising the west and east coasts of Peninsular Malaysia. The western cluster was further divided into two sub-clusters with one of the sub-clusters showing strong admixture pattern that harbours high levels of genetic diversity, thus deserving high priority for conservation.

SUBMITTER: Azman A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7644706 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Low genetic diversity indicating the threatened status of Rhizophora apiculata (Rhizophoraceae) in Malaysia: declined evolution meets habitat destruction.

Azman Amelia A Ng Kevin-Kit-Siong KK Ng Chin-Hong CH Lee Chai-Ting CT Tnah Lee-Hong LH Zakaria Nurul-Farhanah NF Mahruji Suhaila S Perdan Khairuddin K Abdul-Kadir Md-Zaidey MZ Cheng Acga A Lee Soon-Leong SL

Scientific reports 20201105 1

Worldwide, many mangrove species are experiencing significant population declines, including Rhizophora apiculata, which is one of the most widespread and economically important species in tropical Asia. In Malaysia, there has been an alarming decline in R. apiculata populations driven primarily by anthropogenic activities. However, the lack of genetic and demographic information on this species has hampered local efforts to conserve it. To address these gaps, we generated novel genetic informat ...[more]

PMID: 33154411

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Project description:Rhizophora apiculata is a halophytic, small mangrove tree distributed along the coastal regions of the tropical and subtropical areas of the world. They are natural genetic reservoirs of salt adaptation genes and offer a unique system to explore adaptive mechanisms under salinity stress. However, there are no reliable studies available on selection and validation of reference genes for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in R. apiculata physiological tissues and in salt stress conditions. The selection of appropriate candidate reference gene for normalization of qRT-PCR data is a crucial step towards relative analysis of gene expression. In the current study, seven genes such as elongation factor 1? (EF1?), Ubiquitin (UBQ), ?-tubulin (?-TUB), Actin (ACT), Ribulose1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rbcL), Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and 18S rRNA (18S) were selected and analyzed for their expression stability. Physiological tissues such as leaf, root, stem, and flower along with salt stress leaf samples were used for selection of candidate reference genes. The high-quality expression data was obtained from biological replicates and further analyzed using five different programs such as geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, Delta Ct and RefFinder. All algorithms comprehensively ranked EF1? followed by ACT as the most stable candidate reference genes in R. apiculata physiological tissues. Moreover, ?-TUB and 18S were ranked as moderately stable candidate reference genes, while GAPDH and rbcL were least stable reference genes. Under salt stress, EF1? was comprehensively recommended top-ranked candidate reference gene followed by ACT and 18S. In order to validate the identified most stable candidate reference genes, EF1?, ACT, 18S and UBQ were used for relative gene expression level of sodium/proton antiporter (NHX) gene under salt stress. The expression level of NHX varied according to the internal control which showed the importance of selection of appropriate reference gene. Taken together, this is the first ever systematic attempt of selection and validation of reference gene for qRT-PCR in R. apiculata physiological tissues and in salt stress. This study would promote gene expression profiling of salt stress tolerance related genes in R. apiculata.

Dataset Information

Low genetic diversity indicating the threatened status of Rhizophora apiculata (Rhizophoraceae) in Malaysia: declined evolution meets habitat destruction.

Publications

Low genetic diversity indicating the threatened status of Rhizophora apiculata (Rhizophoraceae) in Malaysia: declined evolution meets habitat destruction.

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