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Genetic diversity, spatial genetic structure and realised seed and pollen dispersal of Himatanthus drasticus (Apocynaceae) in the Brazilian savanna

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Abstract

We assessed the pollen and seed dispersal patterns, genetic diversity, inbreeding and spatial genetic structure of Himatanthus drasticus (Apocynaceae), a tree native to the Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado) that is heavily exploited for its medicinal latex. The study was conducted in the Araripe National Forest, Ceará State, Brazil. Within a one-hectare plot, samples were collected from all adult trees, adult trees located in the immediate vicinity of the plot, and seedlings. All sampled individuals were mapped and genotyped using microsatellite markers. High levels of polymorphism and significant levels of inbreeding were found, which indicates that self-fertilisation and mating among relatives occur in this population. Both the adults and seedlings had significant spatial genetic structure up to ~40 m and our results confirmed the occurrence of isolation by distance. Pollen and seeds were dispersed over short distances and immigration of pollen and seeds into the plot was estimated at 13 and 9 %, respectively. Taking into consideration the degree of inbreeding, relatedness, intrapopulation spatial genetic structure and pollen dispersal distance, we recommend collecting seeds from a large number of trees spaced at least 150 m apart to avoid collecting seeds from related individuals and an overlap of pollen pools among seed trees.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank D. Pessoa and the staff of FLONA Araripe for their support during fieldwork. We are also grateful to T. Eugênio and P. Zambon for technical support in the laboratory. This work was supported by the National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development through a research grant [grant number 472127/2008-0], a PhD fellowship granted to C.B. and research productivity fellowships granted to A.M.S., A.P.S. and F.A.M.S. and by the São Paulo Research Foundation through a research grant [grant number 2008/08737-4], an undergraduate scholarship to T.J.A. and a post-doctoral fellowship to M.B.C. We would also like to thank A. G. Young and two anonymous reviewers for their important suggestions in the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), CP 6109, Campinas, SP, CEP 13083-970, Brazil

    Cristina Baldauf, Flavio Antonio Maës dos Santos & Anete Pereira de Souza

  2. Genetic Engineering and Molecular Biology Centre, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), CP 6010, Campinas, SP, CEP 13083-875, Brazil

    Cristina Baldauf, Maísa Ciampi-Guillardi, Thaísa Jacinto Aguirra & Anete Pereira de Souza

  3. Department of Animal Sciences, Federal Rural University of Semiarid Region (UFERSA), Avenida Francisco Mota, 572 – Costa e Silva, Mossoró, RN, CEP 59625-900, Brazil

    Cristina Baldauf

  4. Department of Plant Pathology, University of São Paulo (ESALQ-USP), Piracicaba, SP, CEP 13418-900, Brazil

    Maísa Ciampi-Guillardi

  5. Institute of Biology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, CEP 31270-901, Brazil

    Christiane Erondina Corrêa

  6. São Paulo Forestry Institute, CP 1322, São Paulo, SP, CEP 01059-970, Brazil

    Alexandre Magno Sebbenn

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  1. Cristina Baldauf
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  2. Maísa Ciampi-Guillardi
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  3. Thaísa Jacinto Aguirra
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  4. Christiane Erondina Corrêa
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  7. Alexandre Magno Sebbenn
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Correspondence to Cristina Baldauf.

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Baldauf, C., Ciampi-Guillardi, M., Aguirra, T.J. et al. Genetic diversity, spatial genetic structure and realised seed and pollen dispersal of Himatanthus drasticus (Apocynaceae) in the Brazilian savanna. Conserv Genet 15, 1073–1083 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-014-0600-5

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