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Evidence from sequence-tagged-site markers of a recent progenitor-derivative species pair in conifers

Summary

Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 97(21): 113311-11336

Black spruce (Picea mariana [B.S.P.] Mill.) and red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) are two conifer species known to hybridize naturally in northeastern North America. We hypothesized that there is a progenitor-derivative relationship between these two taxa and conducted a genetic investigation by using sequence-tagged-site markers of expressed genes. Based on the 26 sequence-tagged-site loci assayed in this study, the unbiased genetic identity between the two taxa was quite high with a value of 0.920. The mean number of polymorphic loci, the mean number of alleles per polymorphic locus, and the average observed heterozygosity were lower in red spruce (P = 35%, AP = 2.1, Ho = 0.069) than in black spruce (P = 54%, AP = 2.9, Ho = 0.103). No unique alleles were found in red spruce, and the observed patterns of allele distribution indicated that the genetic diversity of red spruce was essentially a subset of that found in black spruce. When considered in combination with ecological evidence and simulation results, these observations clearly support the existence of a progenitor-derivative relationship and suggest that the reduced level of genetic diversity in red spruce may result from allopatric speciation through glaciation-induced isolation of a preexisting black spruce population during the Pleistocene era. Our observations signal a need for a thorough reexamination of several conifer species complexes in which natural hybridization is known to occur.

Sector(s): 

Forests

Categorie(s): 

Scientific Article

Theme(s): 

Forest Genetics, Forest Tree Breeding, Forestry Research, Forests

Departmental author(s): 

Perron, Martin

Author(s)

PERRON, Martin, Daniel J. PERRY, Christophe ANDALO and Jean BOUSQUET

Year of publication :

2000

Keywords :

allopatric speciation, genetic diversity, biodiversity, natural introgressive hybridization, Pleistocene, conifer, Picea rubens, Picea mariana, red spruce, black spruce, DNA isolation, STS marker, forest tree improvement, amélioration génétique des arbres, spéciation allopatrique, diversité génétique, biodiversité, hybridation introgressive naturelle, pléistocène, conifère, extraction d'ADN, marqueur STS, épinette rouge, épinette noire

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