Conservation strategies for endemic Dendrocalamus manipureanus: A study on genetic diversity and population structure based on molecular and phytochemical markers
Thoungamba Amom, Leimapokpam Tikendra, Angamba Meetei Potshangbam, Nongthombam Bidyananda, Rajkumari Sanayaima Devi, Abhijit Dey, Manas Ranjan Sahoo, Wagner A. Vendrame, Imlitoshi Jamir, Potshangbam Nongdam
Abstract
Genetic diversity and population structure studies were conducted for the first time on endemic Dendrocalamus manipureanus of Manipur, northeast India, using molecular and phytochemical markers. 15 inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and 11 start codon targeted (SCoT) primers produced 136 and 91 polymorphic bands, respectively, generating high polymorphism. 10 primers of inter primer binding site (iPBS) markers gave 94 polymorphic bands producing 100% polymorphism. The Mantel test showed no significant correlation between markers indicating the necessity of employing a combination of multiple markers in diversity assessment. Combined marker analysis showed high genetic differentiation among populations (Gst = 0.684) due to low gene flow (Nm = 0.230). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) also disclosed high genetic variation (67%) among the population and low diversity (33%) within the populations. BARRIER analysis identified 9 putative genetic barriers separating D. manipureanus populations, affirming the possible hindrance to gene flow. Neighbor-joining dendrogram and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) revealed the absence of mixed clustering patterns. Bayesian model STRUCTURE analysis grouped D. manipureanus populations into 7 genetic clusters (K = 7) with less admixture. GENELAND further assigned the bamboo genotypes into 9 different genetic pools, confirming a high level of genetic isolation among the populations. The phytochemical examination further validated the molecular diversity studies with a similar bamboo diversity profile generation. The positive correlation between the genetic and phytochemical distance (r = 0.62, P = 0.01) confirmed that the phytochemical investigation could substantiate molecular diversity studies. The measures recommended from the crucial genetic findings might be utilized for genetic improvement and management of the endemic bamboo in the region.