<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Himalayan cedar (<italic>Cedrus deodara</italic>) is one of the most important temperate timber species of Western Himalayas and is considered to be among the endangered conifer species in the region. Knowledge of genetic diversity and population structure will help guide gene conservation strategies for this species. Ten polymorphic chloroplast microsatellites (cpSSR) were used to study genetic diversity and population structure in twenty one natural populations of <italic>C. deodara</italic> throughout its entire distribution range in Western Himalayas. When alleles at each of the 10 loci were jointly analysed, 254 different haplotypes were identified among 1050 individuals. The cpSSRs indicate that <italic>C. deodara</italic> forests maintain a moderately high level of genetic diversity (mean <italic>h</italic> = 0.79
). AMOVA analysis showed that most of the diversity in <italic>C. deodara</italic> occurs within populations. Bayesian analysis for population structure (BAPS) revealed spatial structuration of the variation (22 % of the total variation) and substructuring captured nineteen genetic clusters in the entire divisions of the populations. Most of the populations were clustered independently with minor admixtures. The distribution of genetic diversity and sub-structuring of <italic>C. deodara</italic> may be due to restricted gene flow due to geographic isolation, genetic drift, and natural selection. These findings indicated existence of genetically distinct and different high diversity and low diversity clusters, which are potential groups of populations that require attention for their conservation and management. The results are interpreted in context of future conservation plans for <italic>C. deodara</italic>.</p></abstract>

Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara) is one of the most important temperate timber species of Western Himalayas and is considered to be among the endangered conifer species in the region. Knowledge of genetic diversity and population structure will help guide gene conservation strategies for this species. Ten polymorphic chloroplast microsatellites (cpSSR) were used to study genetic diversity and population structure in twenty one natural populations of C. deodara throughout its entire distribution range in Western Himalayas. When alleles at each of the 10 loci were jointly analysed, 254 different haplotypes were identified among 1050 individuals. The cpSSRs indicate that C. deodara forests maintain a moderately high level of genetic diversity (mean h = 0.79
). AMOVA analysis showed that most of the diversity in C. deodara occurs within populations. Bayesian analysis for population structure (BAPS) revealed spatial structuration of the variation (22 % of the total variation) and substructuring captured nineteen genetic clusters in the entire divisions of the populations. Most of the populations were clustered independently with minor admixtures. The distribution of genetic diversity and sub-structuring of C. deodara may be due to restricted gene flow due to geographic isolation, genetic drift, and natural selection. These findings indicated existence of genetically distinct and different high diversity and low diversity clusters, which are potential groups of populations that require attention for their conservation and management. The results are interpreted in context of future conservation plans for C. deodara.

Chloroplast microsatellites reveal genetic diversity and population structure in natural populations of Himalayan Cedar (<italic>Cedrus deodara</italic> (Roxb.) G. Don) in India

Division of Genetics and Tree Improvement, Forest Research Institute

Silvae Genetica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Chloroplast microsatellites reveal genetic diversity and population structure in natural populations of Himalayan Cedar ( (Roxb.) G. Don) in India

Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara) is one of the most important temperate timber species of Western Himalayas and is considered to be among the endangered...

Chloroplast microsatellites reveal genetic diversity and population structure in natural populations of Himalayan Cedar (Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G. Don) in India

Publié en ligne: 24 août 2020

Pages: 86 - 93

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sg-2020-0012

Mots clés
Cedrus deodara, chloroplast microsatellites, genetic diversity, haplotype

© 2020 H. S. Ginwal et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Chloroplast microsatellites reveal genetic diversity and population structure in natural populations of Himalayan Cedar (Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G. Don) in India

Publié en ligne: 24 août 2020

Pages: 86 - 93

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sg-2020-0012

Mots clésCedrus deodara, chloroplast microsatellites, genetic diversity, haplotype

© 2020 H. S. Ginwal et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mots clés
Cedrus deodara, chloroplast microsatellites, genetic diversity, haplotype