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Evaluation of genetic diversity and population structure of Fragaria nilgerrensis using EST-SSR markers

  • Jie Liu
    ,
  • Yichen Zhang
    ,
  • Xia Diao
    ,
  • Kun Yu
    ,
  • Xiongwei Dai
    ,
  • Peng Qu
  • Yunnan University
    ,
  • University of Oxford
    ,
  • Shanxi University
    ,
  • Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Open access

Abstract

Fragaria nilgerrensis is a diploid wild strawberry widely distributed in Southwest China. Its white color and “peach-like” fragrance of fruits are valuable characters for the genetic improvement of cultivated strawberry plants. Its strong biotic and abiotic resistance and tolerance also enable it to survive in different habitats in the field. In this study, we evaluated the level of genetic variation within and between 16 populations with 169 individuals of F. nilgerrensis using 16 newly developed EST-SSR (expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeats) markers. The results show that the genetic diversity of this species was high, based on Nei’s genetic diversity (0.26) and polymorphic loci (0.41), although it is self-compatible and has clonal propagation. Significant genetic differentiation among populations was also detected by AMOVA analysis (Fst = 0.34), which could be indicative of little gene flow (Nm = 0.43) in F. nilgerrensis. The phylogenetic tree indicates that most of individuals from the same population have clustered together. These populations were not grouped based on the geographical distance, consistent with the Mantel test result (R2 = 0.0063, P > 0.05). All the populations were assigned into two ancestral groups, with some individuals admixed, suggesting ancestral gene flow had occurred between these two groups. Our developed EST-SSR markers as well as the genetic diversity and population structure analysis of F. nilgerrensis are important for genetic improvement in the breeding process. Moreover, the populations that contain high genetic diversity would be a priority for collection and conservation.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Article number

145791

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Gene (Volume 796-797, Issue 145791)

Publication milestones

  • Accepted/In press - 22/06/2021
  • Published - 25/06/2021

Publication status

Published - 25/06/2021

ISSN

0378-1119

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/625035
  • Scopus: 85110179196

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