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<p>Maqui is a wild berry from Patagonian forests holding multiple nutraceutical properties. To promote its conservation and to avoid overexploitation of the natural resources, domestication programs have begun requiring knowledge about the genetic diversity of natural populations. To evaluate neutral genetic variation and spatial genetic structure of maqui we analysed eight Argentinean populations. These populations covered the natural distribution area of maqui in Patagonia (3 latitudinal degrees and 350&#xa0;km between most distant populations) and two contrasting environments (i.e. shady humid <i>Nothofagus dombeyi</i> and xeric sunny <i>Austrocedrus chilensis</i> forests respectively). Molecular genotyping of 73 individuals was performed using 12 microsatellites. Only six of the 12 markers used showed variation, with an average number of alleles of 5.6. A clear genetic structure was detected: the northernmost population showed the greatest variation. The populations were grouped into two genetic clusters, thereby separating the two southernmost populations from those located further north. This structure is coincident with that found in Chile, where a north-south decrease in the genetic diversity of natural populations was reported. The observed genetic pattern could be related to the fact that the populations of Argentina correspond to the easternmost and southernmost distribution of the entire natural range of <i>A. chilensis</i>. Genetic knowledge generated from our work provides support for future sampling strategies, ex-situ evaluation, and conservation initiatives.</p>

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Genetic variation in natural populations of a Patagonian berry decreases towards the extremes of its distribution

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月19日

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  • Cecilia Soledad Roldán,
  • Verónica Andrea El Mujtar,
  • Gonzalo Caballé,
  • Federico Berli,
  • Paula Marchelli

摘要

Maqui is a wild berry from Patagonian forests holding multiple nutraceutical properties. To promote its conservation and to avoid overexploitation of the natural resources, domestication programs have begun requiring knowledge about the genetic diversity of natural populations. To evaluate neutral genetic variation and spatial genetic structure of maqui we analysed eight Argentinean populations. These populations covered the natural distribution area of maqui in Patagonia (3 latitudinal degrees and 350 km between most distant populations) and two contrasting environments (i.e. shady humid Nothofagus dombeyi and xeric sunny Austrocedrus chilensis forests respectively). Molecular genotyping of 73 individuals was performed using 12 microsatellites. Only six of the 12 markers used showed variation, with an average number of alleles of 5.6. A clear genetic structure was detected: the northernmost population showed the greatest variation. The populations were grouped into two genetic clusters, thereby separating the two southernmost populations from those located further north. This structure is coincident with that found in Chile, where a north-south decrease in the genetic diversity of natural populations was reported. The observed genetic pattern could be related to the fact that the populations of Argentina correspond to the easternmost and southernmost distribution of the entire natural range of A. chilensis. Genetic knowledge generated from our work provides support for future sampling strategies, ex-situ evaluation, and conservation initiatives.