4.7 Article

High genetic diversity and low differentiation of endangered Ferula tadshikorum Pimenov in Tajikistan

Journal

GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
Volume 28, Issue -, Pages -

Publisher

ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01627

Keywords

Ferula tadshikorum; Genetic assessment; Microsatellite; Small population size; Medicinal plant

Funding

  1. Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, China [RCEECA-2019-004]
  2. Youth Innovation Promotion Association Foundation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China [2019429]
  3. Western Doctoral Project, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China [2016QNXZB16]

Ask authors/readers for more resources

This study analyzed the genetic diversity and structure of 196 individual plants from six populations of the critically endangered herbaceous medicinal plant Ferula tadshikorum, identifying high levels of genetic diversity and low levels of genetic variation and differentiation among populations. No recent genetic bottleneck was observed, and structural analysis revealed two genetic clusters among all individuals.
Comprehensive research on the genetic diversity and structure of small populations of endangered plants is a prerequisite for their effective conservation and management. Ferula tadshikorum is a critically endangered herbaceous medicinal plant, which has a declining population size in southern Tajikistan. Lack of information about the genetic diversity is a major obstacle in formulating appropriate management strategies for its protection. The present study analysed the genetic diversity and structure of 196 individual plants from six populations by studying a total of 123 alleles. High level of genetic diversity (h(S) = 0.613, h(T) = 0.626, Ho = 0.728, He = 0.605, PIC = 1.207, PPB = 100%) and low levels of genetic variation and differentiation (Fst = 0.029) among populations were detected. It should be noted that no recent genetic bottleneck was observed in the six populations. Structural analysis divided all individuals into two genetic clusters but failed to categorise the populations. Given the association between overexploitation and a decline in the population size of Ferula species, several strategies, including establishing in situ conservation, artificial breeding in botanical gardens for ex situ conservation, developing large-scale artificial cultivation, and exploring synthetic pathways of active components from wild resources, have also been proposed. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.7
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available