Ecological and evolutionary drivers of phenotypic and genetic variation in the European crabapple [Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill.], a wild relative of the cultivated apple
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Author
Chen, X.
Avia, K.
Forler, A.
Remoué, C.
Venon, A.
Rousselet, A.
Lucas, G.
Kwarteng, A.O.
Rover, R.
Le Guilloux, M.
Belcram, H.
Combes, V.
Corti, H.
Olverà-Vazquelz, S.
Falque, M.
Kirisits, T.
Ursu, T.M.
Roman, A.
Volk, G.M.
Bazot, S.
Cornille, A.
Publication date
2023-05-06ISSN
0305-7364
Abstract
Background and Aims
Studying the relationship between phenotypic and genetic variation in populations distributed across environmental gradients can help us to understand the ecological and evolutionary processes involved in population divergence. We investigated the patterns of genetic and phenotypic diversity in the European crabapple, Malus sylvestris, a wild relative of the cultivated apple (Malus domestica) that occurs naturally across Europe in areas subjected to different climatic conditions, to test for divergence among populations.
Methods
Growth rates and traits related to carbon uptake in seedlings collected across Europe were measured in controlled conditions and associated with the genetic status of the seedlings, which was assessed using 13 microsatellite loci and the Bayesian clustering method. Isolation-by-distance, isolation-by-climate and isolation-by-adaptation patterns, which can explain genetic and phenotypic differentiation among M. sylvestris populations, were also tested.
Key Results
A total of 11.6 % of seedlings were introgressed by M. domestica, indicating that crop–wild gene flow is ongoing in Europe. The remaining seedlings (88.4 %) belonged to seven M. sylvestris populations. Significant phenotypic trait variation among M. sylvestris populations was observed. We did not observe significant isolation by adaptation; however, the significant association between genetic variation and the climate during the Last Glacial Maximum suggests that there has been local adaptation of M. sylvestris to past climates.
Conclusions
This study provides insight into the phenotypic and genetic differentiation among populations of a wild relative of the cultivated apple. This might help us to make better use of its diversity and provide options for mitigating the impact of climate change on the cultivated apple through breeding.
Document Type
Article
Document version
Accepted version
Language
English
Subject (CDU)
633 - Field crops and their production
Pages
36
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Is part of
Annals of Botany
Citation
Chen, X, Komlan Avia, A. Forler, Carine Remoué, Anthony Venon, Agnès Rousselet, G. Lucas, et al. “Ecological and Evolutionary Drivers of Phenotypic and Genetic Variation in the European Crabapple [Malus Sylvestris (L.) Mill.], a Wild Relative of the Cultivated Apple.” Annals of Botany 131, no. 6 (May 6, 2023): 1025–37. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcad061
Program
Fructicultura
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- ARTICLES CIENTÍFICS [2555]
Rights
Copyright © The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company