Genetic diversity of Avena ventricosa populations along an ecogeographical transect in Cyprus is correlated to environmental variables
Journal
PLoS ONE
Date Issued
March 2018
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0193885
Abstract
Avena ventricosa Balansa ex Coss. is considered the C-genome donor of the cultivated
hexaploid oat and is a `priority' species for conservation, since it has limited geographic distribution
and the only recorded populations in Europe are present in Cyprus. The current study
attempts to characterize the genetic structure and fragmentation of the species via the application
of genotypic markers. It was revealed that the genetic variety was mainly allocated
among the populations collected, since clustering obtained was according to the geographic
origin of the samples and the habitat. Species distribution modeling showed that the most
important climatic variable defining A. ventricosa distribution is the mean diurnal temperature.
Furthermore, significant association of the genetic structure to environmental variables was
detected; overall, a negative association to precipitation was confirmed, while significant correlations
of genetic structure and the temperature at the time of anthesis and germination
were established. The safeguarding of this valuable genetic resource is discussed.
hexaploid oat and is a `priority' species for conservation, since it has limited geographic distribution
and the only recorded populations in Europe are present in Cyprus. The current study
attempts to characterize the genetic structure and fragmentation of the species via the application
of genotypic markers. It was revealed that the genetic variety was mainly allocated
among the populations collected, since clustering obtained was according to the geographic
origin of the samples and the habitat. Species distribution modeling showed that the most
important climatic variable defining A. ventricosa distribution is the mean diurnal temperature.
Furthermore, significant association of the genetic structure to environmental variables was
detected; overall, a negative association to precipitation was confirmed, while significant correlations
of genetic structure and the temperature at the time of anthesis and germination
were established. The safeguarding of this valuable genetic resource is discussed.
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