Scholarlink

<p><i>Taverniera cuneifolia</i> (Roth) Arn., a leguminous shrub found in India’s arid regions, is the sole representative of its genus in the country with globally restricted distribution. The genetic diversity and population structure which are central to any population genetics assessment have not been reported for any population of this species globally. While the species is valued both ecologically and ethnomedicinally in India, it faces increasing threats from habitat fragmentation and environmental stress exacerbated by climate change and mounting bioprospection interest, especially due to its emerging recognition as a potential substitute for <i>Glycyrrhiza glabra</i>. This study presents the first multilocus inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR)-based evaluation of the population dynamics of <i>Taverniera</i>. Nineteen ISSR primers revealed high polymorphism (90.04%; 217 polymorphic products out of a total 241 products) with moderate genetic diversity (mean Jaccard’s coefficient = 0.59, <i>h</i> = 0.259 ± 0.168, <i>I</i> = 0.402 ± 0.224), limited gene flow (<i>N</i><sub><i>m</i></sub> = 0.389) and high population differentiation (<i>G</i><sub><i>st</i></sub> = 0.563) indicating restricted connectivity. This was also supported by the&#xa0;analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) that showed that the 79% of the total variation resides within populations (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.001). Population genetics statistics supported conservation of multiple geographically distinct populations to maintain both common and rare alleles. The Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) and Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) revealed two distinct clusters (r = 0.94281) and Bayesian STRUCTURE analysis consistently revealed seven genetic clusters (ΔK = 7) strongly associated with ecological gradients. Mantel test confirmed a fairly positive correlation between genetic and geographical components (r = 0.283, <i>P</i> = 0.002). Overall, the genetic architecture of <i>T. cuneifolia</i> reflects complex interactions of historical gene flow, isolation by distance and environment, and ecological selection shaping distinct evolutionary lineages. Given its restricted global distribution, ethnomedicinal value, and potential for commercial bioprospection, urgent conservation strategies focusing on maintaining genetic connectivity and protecting diverse habitats are essential for long-term survival of <i>T. cuneifolia</i> amid escalating environmental challenges. We recommend collection of small number of samples from multiple geographically distinct populations each for ex situ<i> T. cuneifolia</i> conservation due to the moderate genetic diversity revealed among individuals against a background of significant population differentiation.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Unveiling the genetic landscape of Taverniera cuneifolia (Roth) Arn. in India: Population structure and conservation implications for a medicinal Fabaceae species with restricted global distribution

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月18日

查看全文
  • Akanksha Saxena,
  • Ragul Rengarajan,
  • Ashutosh K. Shukla,
  • Velusamy Sundaresan

摘要

Taverniera cuneifolia (Roth) Arn., a leguminous shrub found in India’s arid regions, is the sole representative of its genus in the country with globally restricted distribution. The genetic diversity and population structure which are central to any population genetics assessment have not been reported for any population of this species globally. While the species is valued both ecologically and ethnomedicinally in India, it faces increasing threats from habitat fragmentation and environmental stress exacerbated by climate change and mounting bioprospection interest, especially due to its emerging recognition as a potential substitute for Glycyrrhiza glabra. This study presents the first multilocus inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR)-based evaluation of the population dynamics of Taverniera. Nineteen ISSR primers revealed high polymorphism (90.04%; 217 polymorphic products out of a total 241 products) with moderate genetic diversity (mean Jaccard’s coefficient = 0.59, h = 0.259 ± 0.168, I = 0.402 ± 0.224), limited gene flow (Nm = 0.389) and high population differentiation (Gst = 0.563) indicating restricted connectivity. This was also supported by the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) that showed that the 79% of the total variation resides within populations (P < 0.001). Population genetics statistics supported conservation of multiple geographically distinct populations to maintain both common and rare alleles. The Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) and Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) revealed two distinct clusters (r = 0.94281) and Bayesian STRUCTURE analysis consistently revealed seven genetic clusters (ΔK = 7) strongly associated with ecological gradients. Mantel test confirmed a fairly positive correlation between genetic and geographical components (r = 0.283, P = 0.002). Overall, the genetic architecture of T. cuneifolia reflects complex interactions of historical gene flow, isolation by distance and environment, and ecological selection shaping distinct evolutionary lineages. Given its restricted global distribution, ethnomedicinal value, and potential for commercial bioprospection, urgent conservation strategies focusing on maintaining genetic connectivity and protecting diverse habitats are essential for long-term survival of T. cuneifolia amid escalating environmental challenges. We recommend collection of small number of samples from multiple geographically distinct populations each for ex situ T. cuneifolia conservation due to the moderate genetic diversity revealed among individuals against a background of significant population differentiation.