RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Effects of clonality on the genetic variability of rare, insular species: the case of Ruta microcarpa from the Canary Islands
A1 Fernández-Palacios, José María
A1 Meloni, M.
A1 Reid, Andrea
A1 Caujapé‑Castells, Juli
A1 Marrero, Á.
A1 Mesa-Coelo, R. A.
A1 Conti, Elena
K1 Reproducción clonal
K1 Diversidad genética
K1 Clonal reproduction
K1 Genetic diversity
AB Many plant species combine sexual and clonal reproduction. Clonal propagationhas ecological costs mainly related to inbreeding depression and pollen discounting;at the same time, species able to reproduce clonally have ecologicaland evolutionary advantages being able to persist when conditions are not favorablefor sexual reproduction. The presence of clonality has profound consequenceson the genetic structure of populations, especially when it representsthe predominant reproductive strategy in a population. Theoretical studies suggestthat high rate of clonal propagation should increase the effective number ofalleles and heterozygosity in a population, while an opposite effect is expectedon genetic differentiation among populations and on genotypic diversity. In thisstudy, we ask how clonal propagation affects the genetic diversity of rare insularspecies, which are often characterized by low levels of genetic diversity, hence atrisk of extinction. We used eight polymorphic microsatellite markers to studythe genetic structure of the critically endangered insular endemic Ruta microcarpa.We found that clonality appears to positively affect the genetic diversity ofR. microcarpa by increasing allelic diversity, polymorphism, and heterozygosity.Moreover, clonal propagation seems to be a more successful reproductive strategyin small, isolated population subjected to environmental stress. Our resultssuggest that clonal propagation may benefit rare species. However, the advantageof clonal growth may be only short-lived for prolonged clonal growth couldultimately lead to monoclonal populations. Some degree of sexual reproductionmay be needed in a predominantly clonal species to ensure long-term viability.
PB John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
SN 2045-7758
YR 2013
FD 2013
LK http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/16368
UL http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/16368
LA en
NO The project was funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) PMPDP3_129170.
DS Repositorio institucional de la Universidad de La Laguna
RD 26-nov-2024