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Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2006; 8(1): 81-92
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-872889
Research Paper

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart KG · New York

Genetic Diversity, Population Structure, and Conservation of Sophora moorcroftiana (Fabaceae), a Shrub Endemic to the Tibetan Plateau

Z.-M. Liu1 , A.-M. Zhao5 , X.-Y. Kang2 , S.-L. Zhou3 , J. López-Pujol3 , 4
  • 1Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110015, People's Republic of China
  • 2College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China
  • 3Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, People's Republic of China
  • 4GReB, Laboratori de Botànica, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Avda. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
  • 5School of Life Science, East China Normal University, North Zhongshan Rd. 3663, Shanghai 200062, People's Republic of China
Further Information

Publication History

Received: February 23, 2005

Accepted: August 30, 2005

Publication Date:
08 November 2005 (online)

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Abstract

Sophora moorcroftiana is a perennial leguminous low shrub endemic to the middle reaches of Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet. It is an important species to fix sand dunes and to avoid the formation of shifting sands; therefore, its progressive over-exploitation may enhance land desertification. The levels and distribution of genetic variability of this species were evaluated from 10 natural populations at 24 loci encoding 13 enzymes, using allozyme analysis by starch gel electrophoresis. Data obtained revealed moderate levels of genetic variation within populations (P p = 27.5 %, A p = 1.5, H ep = 0.122) and a considerable divergence among populations (F ST = 0.199). Significant positive correlations (r 2 = 0.49, p < 0.05; r 2 = 0.46, p < 0.05) were found between elevation and both mean number of alleles per locus (A) and gene diversity (H e) in the studied populations of S. moorcroftiana. Lower genetic diversity in lower elevation populations might be due to the negative effects of human pressures and habitat fragmentation, to adaptation to high altitudes as a consequence of a peripatric speciation process, or to directional gene flow along the river basin from the source populations located in the west at higher altitudes. The evaluation of the degree of threat has led to the inclusion of this species in the category of EN (“endangered”), and conservation strategies for this endemic species are discussed on the basis of these findings.

Key words

Sophora moorcroftiana - allozymes - genetic diversity - population structure - elevation - conservation genetics - Tibet.

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A.-M. Zhao

School of Life Science
East China Normal University

North Zhongshan Rd. 3663

Shanghai 200062

People's Republic of China

Email: zhaoaman@hotmail.com

Editor: F. Salamini