Fine-scale spatial genetic structure and gene flow in Acrocomia aculeata (Arecaceae): Analysis in an overlapping generation

Fixation index Outcrossing Germ plasm Arecaceae Ex situ conservation
DOI: 10.1016/j.bse.2017.02.005 Publication Date: 2017-02-28T00:15:46Z
ABSTRACT
Abstract This study aimed to assess the fine-scale spatial genetic structure (SGS) and gene flow among the developmental stages of Acrocomia aculeata (Arecaceae) in a natural population of the Brazilian savannah. The study was conducted in a 4.5 ha area using a population census composed of 72 adult and 144 juvenile plants. Six-hundred embryo samples were analyzed to investigate the gene flow of plant progenies. All individuals were genotyped using seven microsatellite loci . The microsatellite loci generated 10.1 alleles on average. Observed heterozygosity ( H o ) was lower than expected heterozygosity ( H e ) in all stages of development. The mean H o and H e values were 0.496 and 0.688, respectively. The A. aculeata population presented high genetic diversity despite its significant positive fixation index (0.279, p  = 0.001). Significant SGS was observed for adults at the 2-m distance class and for juveniles at the 2 and 4-m distance classes. Average pollen flow distance was 105 m. High multilocus outcrossing rate was observed (1.2), indicating that the species is preferentially allogamous with evidence of self-incompatibility mechanisms. The A. aculeata population presents high potential for in situ and ex situ genetic conservation and germplasm collection.
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