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Linked vs unlinked markers: multilocus microsatellite haplotype-sharing as a tool to estimate gene flow and
Wim J M Koopman1, Yinghui Li, Els Coart
1Plant Research International, Wageningen UR, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Molecular Ecology
|January 16, 2007
Summary
Multilocus microsatellite haplotypes reveal recent gene flow and introgression in wild apple (Malus sylvestris) populations. Shared haplotypes provide insights into historical gene flow and recent introgression events between wild and cultivated apples.
Area of Science:
- Population Genetics
- Conservation Genetics
- Molecular Ecology
Background:
- Understanding gene flow and introgression is crucial for conserving wild plant species.
- Wild apple (Malus sylvestris) faces threats from habitat loss and hybridization with cultivated apple (Malus domestica).
- Microsatellite markers are valuable tools for studying genetic diversity and population structure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate introgression between cultivated and wild apple species using multilocus microsatellite haplotypes.
- To assess gene flow among remnant wild apple populations.
- To evaluate the utility of shared haplotype analysis for detecting recent genetic exchange.
Main Methods:
- Inferred multilocus microsatellite haplotypes from genotype data for four to eight loci on Linkage Group 10.
- Utilized the program 'phase' for haplotype inference and 'structure' for Bayesian analysis.
- Identified shared haplotypes between populations and species to infer gene flow and introgression history.
Main Results:
- Haplotype-sharing analysis revealed a partially different set of putative hybrids compared to Bayesian analysis.
- Short cultivated haplotypes (< 1.5 cM) in wild apples indicated ancient introgression, except for two recent cases (47.1 cM).
- Shared wild apple haplotypes across populations suggested recent gene flow, supporting the consideration of Dutch populations as a single conservation unit.
Conclusions:
- Multilocus microsatellite haplotype sharing is a powerful method for detecting recent gene flow and introgression.
- The study highlights the importance of considering historical and recent introgression in wild apple conservation.
- Shared haplotype analysis offers added value for population genetic studies, complementing traditional methods.
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