Genetic structure among morphotypes of the endangered Brazilian palm Euterpe edulis Mart (Arecaceae). Issue 12 (19th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Coelho, Gislaine Mendes; Santos, Alesandro Souza; de Menezes, Ivandilson Pessoa Pinto; Tarazi, Roberto; Souza, Fernanda Maria Oliveira; Silva, Maria das Graças Conceição Parada Costa; Gaiotto, Fernanda Amato
• Is Part Of: Ecology and evolution. Volume 10:Issue 12(2020)
• Page Start: 6039
• Page End: 6048
• Publication Date: 2020-05-19
• Subjects: ecotypes -- genetic bottleneck -- palm -- population genetics -- tropical rainforest; Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution -- Periodicals; 577.05
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6348
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-7758

Abstract

Abstract: Euterpe edulis (Arecaceae) Mart has high ecological and economic importance providing food resources for more than 58 species of birds and 20 species of mammals, including humans. E . edulis is the second most exploited nontimber product from Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Due to overexploitation and destruction of habitats, E. edulis is threatened by extinction. Euterpe edulis populations have large morphological variations, with individuals having green, red, or yellow leaf sheath. However, no study has related phenotypic distinctions between populations and their levels of genetic structure. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the diversity and genetic structure of different E. edulis morphotypes. We sampled 250 adult individuals in eight populations with the different morphotypes. Using 14 microsatellite markers, we access genetic diversity through population genetic parameters calculated in the GenAlex program and the diveRsity package in R. We used the Wilcoxon test to verify population bottlenecks and the genetic distance of Nei and Bayesian analysis for genetic clusters. The eight populations showed low allele richness, low observed heterozygosity, and high inbreeding values ( f ). In addition, six of the eight populations experienced genetic bottlenecks, which would partly explain the low genetic diversity in populations. Cluster analysis identified two clusters ( K = 2), with green morphotype genetically distinguishing from yellow and red morphotypes. Thus, we show, for the first time, a strong genetic structure among E. edulis morphotypes even for geographically close populations. Abstract : We recorded low genetic variability and genetic bottleneck effect in Euterpe edulis populations, which also have unusual genetic structure for populations of this species. In addition, the evaluated populations formed two genetic clusters, separating typical populations (green morphotype) from populations with yellow or red morphotypes that have restricted occurrence within the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Thus, we showed, for the first time, that morphologically distinct populations of E. edulis have a strong genetic structure, as a possible response to local environmental factors.