Tag: Genetic diversity
Community Vulnerability and Adaptation to the Dynamic of Water Resources in Rejoso Watershed, East Java, Indonesia
Aquimonospora tratensis gen. et sp. nov. (Diaporthomycetidae, Sordariomycetes), a new lineage from a freshwater habitat in Thailand
An interesting hyphomycetous taxon was collected on submerged wood in a freshwater stream in Trat Province, Thailand. It is morphologically similar to endophragmiella-like taxa, characterized by macronematous, mononematous conidiophores, monoblastic, enteroblastic conidiogenous cells and clavate to obovoid, septate brown conidia. The unique feature of this taxon is that the mature conidium often bears a young new conidial primordium which develops percurrently from a lower semi-transparent cell and they secede simultaneously. Phylogenetic analyses of a combined LSU, SSU and RPB2 sequence data support the placement of this fungus together with Platytrachelon and close to the family Papulosaceae within Diaporthomycetidae, Sordariomycetes. A new genus is introduced to accommodate the new taxon as Aquimonospora. The novel species Aquimonospora tratensis is described and illustrated and is compared with other morphologically similar taxa.
One stop shop II: taxonomic update with molecular phylogeny for important phytopathogenic genera: 26-50 (2019)
This paper is the second in a series focused on providing a stable platform for the taxonomy of phytopathogenic fungi. It focuses on 25 phytopathogenic genera: Alternaria, Bipolaris, Boeremia, Botryosphaeria, Calonectria, Coniella, Corticiaceae, Curvularia, Elsinoe, Entyloma, Erythricium, Fomitiporia, Fulviformes, Laetisaria, Limonomyces, Neofabraea, Neofusicoccum, Phaeoacremonium, Phellinotus, Phyllosticta, Plenodomus, Pseudopyricularia, Tilletia, Venturia and Waitea, using recent molecular data, up to date names and the latest taxonomic insights. For each genus a taxonomic background, diversity aspects, species identification and classification based on molecular phylogeny and recommended genetic markers are provided. In this study, varieties of the genus Boeremia have been elevated to species level. Botryosphaeria, Bipolaris, Curvularia, Neofusicoccum and Phyllosticta that were included in the One Stop Shop 1 paper are provided with updated entries, as many new species have been introduced to these genera.
The amazing potential of fungi: 50 ways we can exploit fungi industrially
Fungi are an understudied, biotechnologically valuable group of organisms. Due to the immense range of habitats that fungi inhabit, and the consequent need to compete against a diverse array of other fungi, bacteria, and animals, fungi have developed numerous survival mechanisms. The unique attributes of fungi thus herald great promise for their application in biotechnology and industry. Moreover, fungi can be grown with relative ease, making production at scale viable. The search for fungal biodiversity, and the construction of a living fungi collection, both have incredible economic potential in locating organisms with novel industrial uses that will lead to novel products. This manuscript reviews fifty ways in which fungi can potentially be utilized as biotechnology. We provide notes and examples for each potential exploitation and give examples from our own work and the work of other notable researchers. We also provide a flow chart that can be used to convince funding bodies of the importance of fungi for biotechnological research and as potential products. Fungi have provided the world with penicillin, lovastatin, and other globally significant medicines, and they remain an untapped resource with enormous industrial potential.
Morpho-physiological characterization of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) accessions in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is one of the potential hotspots for the diversity of jackfruit tree (Artocarpus heterophyllus), which is widely grown in almost every homestead. Jackfruit is a multipurpose tree, the fruits are an important source of nutrients; it also provides good timber, and possesses pharmacological properties which are widely used in medicine to treat a range of ailments. Despite this importance, the rich local genetic resource has been degrading due to high anthropogenic pressure before being fully documented and utilized for potential crop improvement. The present study was aimed to collect superior accessions from the major jackfruit growing areas of Bangladesh through in-situ evaluation and document them based on morphological (qualitative and quantitative) data in order to conserve the best local races. Twenty-eight jackfruit accessions were collected during 2015–2016. The data on 26 important quantitative and 36 qualitative characters were analyzed following the IPGR, 2000 procedure. Results of correlation coefficient of quantitative features demonstrated that out of 325 coefficients; 136 and 53 were significant at P<0.05 and P<0.01 levels, respectively, and others (136) were found non-significant. Hierarchal cluster analysis grouped both accessions and variables into four clusters and heat-map analysis indicated that wide range of variations exists among the accessions as well as variables levels. Wide range of variations were found in most important features like fruiting season, fruit-bearing, shape, rind color and surface, flake-shape and texture, pulp-taste, flavor, juiciness, and color, vivipary seed coat adherence to kernel. Genetic diversity was found to be higher in the studied jackfruit accessions which indicates scope for tree breeding planning.
Managing biological and genetic diversity in tropical agroforestry
The issues of biological and genetic diversity management in agroforestry are extremely complex. This paper focuses on genetic diversity management and its implications for sustainable agroforestry systems in the tropics, and presents an analysis of the role and importance of inter- and intra-specific diversity in agroforestry. Diversity within and between tree species in traditional agroforestry systems and modern agroforestry technologies in the tropics is assessed, with a view to understanding the functional elements within them and assessing the role and place of diversity. The assessment shows that although the practice of agroforestry has been a diversity management and conservation system, research in agroforestry over time has de-emphasized the diversity element
Preliminary evidence for domestication effects on the genetic diversity of Guazuma crinita in the Peruvian Amazon
Guazuma crinita, a fast-growing timber tree species, was chosen for domestication in the Peruvian Amazon because it can be harvested at an early age and it contributes to the livelihood of local farmers. Although it is in an early stage of domestication, we do not know the impact of the domestication process on its genetic resources. Amplified fragment length polymorphic (AFLP) fingerprints were used to estimate the genetic diversity of G. crinita populations in different stages of domestication. Our objectives were (i) to estimate the level of genetic diversity in G. crinita using AFLP markers, (ii) to describe how the genetic diversity is distributed within and among populations and provenances, and (iii) to assess the genetic diversity in naturally regenerated, cultivated and semi-domesticated populations. We generated fingerprints for 58 leaf samples representing eight provenances and the three population types. We used seven selective primer combinations. A total of 171 fragments were amplified with 99.4% polymorphism at the species level. Nei’s genetic diversity and Shannon information index were slightly higher in the naturally regenerated population than in the cultivated and semi-domesticated populations (He = 0.10, 0.09 and 0.09; I = 0.19, 0.15 and 0.16, respectively). The analysis of molecular variation showed higher genetic diversity within rather than among provenances (84% and 4%, respectively). Cluster analysis (unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean) and principal coordinate analysis did not show correspondence between genetic and geographic distance. There was significant genetic differentiation among population types (Fst = 0.12 at p < 0.001). The sample size was small, so the results are considered as preliminary, pending further research with larger sample sizes. Nevertheless, these results suggest that domestication has a slight but significant effect on the diversity levels of G. crinita and this should be considered when planning a domestication program.
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Canarium tramdenum Dai and Yakovl. in Northern Vietnam
Canarium tramdenum occurs naturally in subtropical and tropical regions of Indochina and China. The wood is used for making high quality furniture and the fruit and leaves are used in traditional medicine. However, a lack of information on genetic diversity and population structure has handicapped the genetic conservation and domestication of this high-value species. This study evaluated genetic variation within and among four C. tramdenum populations. Sixty individuals were collected from four natural populations in Vietnam in the provinces of Ninhbinh, Bacgiang, Nghean, and Backan. Genetic diversity and genetic structure were determined using 20 ISSR markers. A total of 192 DNA fragments with sizes ranging from 110 bp to 3,000 bp were detected, of which 154 segments (80.2%) were polymorphic and 38 segments (19.8%) were monomorphic. The ISSR data indicated a moderate degree of genetic diversity for the species (h = 0.252). The four populations were separated into three genetic clusters with low levels of genetic distance between them. AMOVA result showed that most (78%) of the genetic variation was within the populations. The moderate to high genetic diversity of C. tramdenum and the low genetic differentiation among populations suggested that all existing natural populations in the particular regions needed to be preserved to protect the genetic diversity of this species.
Highway Genebank: An Ideation for Plant Genetic Resources Conservation on the Highway Margins
India is an ecologically and culturally diverse country. Every region of this country has a plethora of woody perennials that have the potential to provide food, fibre, fodder, fuel, nutrition, and livelihood to the local population. Promoting access to this wide diversity of multipurpose trees can extensively address the problem of malnutrition and poverty in rural India. Therefore, these valuable biological resources should be conserved for posterity and promoted vigorously to make them accessible to the common citizen. Conservation of these valuable genetic resources and their germplasm in field genebanks is a common practice followed across the globe. But, every country including India faces severe constraint of land resources to upscale such efforts leading to assemblage of proportionately very less number of germplasm in the field genebanks. A massive highway development programme of nearly 69432 km length is being undertaken in India. These highway projects are being planted with tree species to make them green. With an appropriate policy convergence and coordination with various plantation and livelihood schemes, such plantations can conserve thousands of genetically diverse accessions available in the woody perennial while dispensing other benefits that had been stipulated in the plantation programme of the country. A conservative estimate projects that the express highways alone an accommodate nearly 20 million trees. Additionally, such plantations can serve as a platform for advancement of research on woody perennials for students, academicians, social scientists, conservationists etc.