Genetic Diversity and Structure of a Critically Endangered Ornamental Species, <i>Rhododendron farinosum</i>, with Extremely Small Populations
A comprehensive study of the genetic characteristics of endangered species is a prerequisite for their effective conservation and management. <i>Rhododendron farinosum</i> is an endangered ornamental species with extremely small populations located in northeastern Yunnan Province. To unr...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Horticulturae |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/1/51 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832588355923083264 |
|---|---|
| author | Fengjuan Li Linyuan Fan Jingli Zhang Wen Liu Wei Li Yongpeng Ma Hong Ma |
| author_facet | Fengjuan Li Linyuan Fan Jingli Zhang Wen Liu Wei Li Yongpeng Ma Hong Ma |
| author_sort | Fengjuan Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A comprehensive study of the genetic characteristics of endangered species is a prerequisite for their effective conservation and management. <i>Rhododendron farinosum</i> is an endangered ornamental species with extremely small populations located in northeastern Yunnan Province. To unravel the reasons behind the endangerment of this species and provide guidance for the rational conservation of this species, this study obtained a large number of SNP loci by using double-digest restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq) to evaluate the genetic diversity and genetic structure of <i>R. farinosum</i>, as well as to infer the population history of this species. Our findings reveal that, at the population level, <i>R. farinosum</i> exhibited a high genetic diversity (π = 0.1948 ± 0.0020, H<sub>E</sub> = 0.1880 ± 0.0020). The F<sub>ST</sub> values (0.1383–0.2231) indicated high genetic differentiation among the three populations. The AMOVA revealed that 62.83% of the genetic variation originated within populations and 37.17% between populations. The PCA, Structure, and UPGMA consistently depicted that the three populations of <i>R. farinosum</i> are clearly distinguished into three clusters. Furthermore, the effective population size of <i>R. farinosum</i> was inferred to date back to 95,000 years ago using the stairway plot, with a continuous decline from 3292 years. Based on these findings, we propose conservation strategies and management measures for <i>R. farinosum.</i> |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-89422c6377384ac29a5b4a06e57d4e5f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2311-7524 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Horticulturae |
| spelling | doaj-art-89422c6377384ac29a5b4a06e57d4e5f2025-01-24T13:34:36ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242025-01-011115110.3390/horticulturae11010051Genetic Diversity and Structure of a Critically Endangered Ornamental Species, <i>Rhododendron farinosum</i>, with Extremely Small PopulationsFengjuan Li0Linyuan Fan1Jingli Zhang2Wen Liu3Wei Li4Yongpeng Ma5Hong Ma6Institute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming 650233, ChinaYunnan General Administration of Forestry Seeds and Seedlings, Kunming 650215, ChinaCollege of Landscape and Horticulture, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650500, ChinaInstitute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming 650233, ChinaYunnan Jicheng Landscape Technology Co., Ltd., Mile 652399, ChinaKey Laboratory of Comprehensive Conservation for Extremely Small Populations of Wild Plants in Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, ChinaInstitute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming 650233, ChinaA comprehensive study of the genetic characteristics of endangered species is a prerequisite for their effective conservation and management. <i>Rhododendron farinosum</i> is an endangered ornamental species with extremely small populations located in northeastern Yunnan Province. To unravel the reasons behind the endangerment of this species and provide guidance for the rational conservation of this species, this study obtained a large number of SNP loci by using double-digest restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq) to evaluate the genetic diversity and genetic structure of <i>R. farinosum</i>, as well as to infer the population history of this species. Our findings reveal that, at the population level, <i>R. farinosum</i> exhibited a high genetic diversity (π = 0.1948 ± 0.0020, H<sub>E</sub> = 0.1880 ± 0.0020). The F<sub>ST</sub> values (0.1383–0.2231) indicated high genetic differentiation among the three populations. The AMOVA revealed that 62.83% of the genetic variation originated within populations and 37.17% between populations. The PCA, Structure, and UPGMA consistently depicted that the three populations of <i>R. farinosum</i> are clearly distinguished into three clusters. Furthermore, the effective population size of <i>R. farinosum</i> was inferred to date back to 95,000 years ago using the stairway plot, with a continuous decline from 3292 years. Based on these findings, we propose conservation strategies and management measures for <i>R. farinosum.</i>https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/1/51<i>Rhododendron farinosum</i>ddRAD-seqgenetic diversitygenetic differentiationpopulation history |
| spellingShingle | Fengjuan Li Linyuan Fan Jingli Zhang Wen Liu Wei Li Yongpeng Ma Hong Ma Genetic Diversity and Structure of a Critically Endangered Ornamental Species, <i>Rhododendron farinosum</i>, with Extremely Small Populations Horticulturae <i>Rhododendron farinosum</i> ddRAD-seq genetic diversity genetic differentiation population history |
| title | Genetic Diversity and Structure of a Critically Endangered Ornamental Species, <i>Rhododendron farinosum</i>, with Extremely Small Populations |
| title_full | Genetic Diversity and Structure of a Critically Endangered Ornamental Species, <i>Rhododendron farinosum</i>, with Extremely Small Populations |
| title_fullStr | Genetic Diversity and Structure of a Critically Endangered Ornamental Species, <i>Rhododendron farinosum</i>, with Extremely Small Populations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic Diversity and Structure of a Critically Endangered Ornamental Species, <i>Rhododendron farinosum</i>, with Extremely Small Populations |
| title_short | Genetic Diversity and Structure of a Critically Endangered Ornamental Species, <i>Rhododendron farinosum</i>, with Extremely Small Populations |
| title_sort | genetic diversity and structure of a critically endangered ornamental species i rhododendron farinosum i with extremely small populations |
| topic | <i>Rhododendron farinosum</i> ddRAD-seq genetic diversity genetic differentiation population history |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/1/51 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fengjuanli geneticdiversityandstructureofacriticallyendangeredornamentalspeciesirhododendronfarinosumiwithextremelysmallpopulations AT linyuanfan geneticdiversityandstructureofacriticallyendangeredornamentalspeciesirhododendronfarinosumiwithextremelysmallpopulations AT jinglizhang geneticdiversityandstructureofacriticallyendangeredornamentalspeciesirhododendronfarinosumiwithextremelysmallpopulations AT wenliu geneticdiversityandstructureofacriticallyendangeredornamentalspeciesirhododendronfarinosumiwithextremelysmallpopulations AT weili geneticdiversityandstructureofacriticallyendangeredornamentalspeciesirhododendronfarinosumiwithextremelysmallpopulations AT yongpengma geneticdiversityandstructureofacriticallyendangeredornamentalspeciesirhododendronfarinosumiwithextremelysmallpopulations AT hongma geneticdiversityandstructureofacriticallyendangeredornamentalspeciesirhododendronfarinosumiwithextremelysmallpopulations |