Abstract
Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to estimate the genetic variation of seven natural populations of Betula alnoides from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. 16 primers generated a total of 131 highly reproducible and discernible loci, among which 84 were polymorphic. The high genetic diversity was assessed using these RAPD markers at the species and population level, which was congruent with those revealed with allozyme markers, although disparities were found between both types of markers at the single population level. Approximately 90.0% of genetic variance was observed within populations, as revealed with both phenotypic and genotypic RAPD data. The weak differentiation was, perhaps, due to extensive gene flow (Nm < 1.0) of this species in the area. No significant correlation was found between genetic and geographic distances. Based on the results presented in this study, we recommend that a small number of populations represented by large numbers of individuals will be enough for breeding and germplasm conservation purposes, and major attention should be paid to population 2 for conservation and breeding consideration.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allendorf, F.W. & L.W. Seeb, 2002. Concordance of genetic divergence among sockeye salmon populations at allozyme, nuclear DNA, and mitochondrial DNA markers. Evolution 54: 640-651.
Ayana, A., E. Bekele & T. Bryngelsson, 2000. Genetic variation in wild sorghum (Sorghum bicolor ssp. verticilliforum (L.) Moench) germplasm from Ethiopia assessed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Hereditas 132: 249-254.
Excoffier, L., 1995. Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA), version 1.55. Genetics and Biometry Laboratory, University of Geneva.
Excoffier, L., P.E. Smouse & J.M. Quattro, 1992. Analysis of molecular variance inferred from metric distances among DNA haplotypes: application to human mitochondrial DNA restriction data. Genetics 131: 479-491.
Freitas, H. & A. Brehm, 2001. Genetic diversity of the Macaronesian leafy liverwort Porella canariensis inferred from RAPD markers. J Heredity 92: 339-345.
Gao, Y.K., S.Q. Nie & Y.G. Zu, 1999. Genetic structure analysis by RAPD in Betula platyphylla nature population in Northeast of China. In: Y.G. Zu, M. Sun & L. Kang (Eds.), The Application, Method and Theory of Molecular Ecology, pp. 196-205. China Higher Education Press Beijing & Springer-Verlag Heidelberg, Beijing, China. (in Chinese)
Ge, S., G.C.X. Oliveira, B.A. Schaal, L.Z. Gao & D.Y. Hong, 1999. RAPD variation within and between natural populations of the wild rice Oryza rufipogon from China and Brazil. Heredity 82: 638-644.
Gillies, A.C.M., C. Navarro, A.J. Lowe, A.C. Newton, M. Hernandez, J. Wilson & J.P. Cornelius. 1999. Genetic diversity in Mesoamerican populations of mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla), assessed using RAPD. Heredity 83: 722-732.
Howland, D.E., R.P. Oliver & A.J. Davy, 1995. Morphological and molecular variation in natural populations of Betual. New Phytologist 130: 117-124.
Huang, H., F. Dane & T.L. Kubisiak, 1998. Allozyme and RAPD analysis of the genetic diversity and geographic variation in wild populations of the American chestnut (Fagaceae). Amer J Bot 85: 1013-1021.
Hwang, S.Y., H.W. Lin, Y.S. Kuo, T.P. Lin, 2001. RAPD variation in relation to population differentiation of Chamaecyparis formosensis and Chamaecyparis taiwanensis. Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sinica 42: 173-179.
Isabel, N.J. Beaulieu & J. Bousquet, 1995. Complete congruence between gene diversity estimates derived from genotypic data at enzyme and random amplified polymorphic DNA loci in black spruce. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92: 6369-6373.
King, L.M. & B.A. Schaal, 1989. Genotypic variation within asexual lineages of Taraxacum officinale. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 87: 998-1002.
Li, C.Y., 2000. RAPD analysis of genetic variation in Eucalyptus microtheca F. Muell. Populations. Hereditas 132: 151-156.
Lynch, M. & B.G. Milligan, 1994. Analysis of population genetic structure with RAPD markers. Mol Ecology 3: 91-99.
Namkoong, G. & M.P. Koshy, 1997. Managing the genetic variance. In: C. Matyas (Ed.), Perspectives of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding in Changing World, pp. 9-16. IUFRO World Series Vol. 6, International Union of Forestry Research Organizations, Seckendorff-Gudent-Weg 8.A-1131 Vienna, Austria; University of Sopron, Facualty of Forestry, H-9401, Sopron, Hungary.
Nei, M., 1973. Analysis of gene diversity in subdivided populations. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 70: 3321-3323.
Newton, A.C., T.R. Allnutt, A.C.M. Gillies, A.J. Lowe & R.A. Ennos, 1999. Molecular phylogeography, intraspecific variation and the conservation of tree species. Trends Ecol & Evol 14: 140-146.
Rajagopal, J., L. Bashyam, S. Bhatia, D.K. Khurana, P.S. Srivastava & M. Lakshmikumaran, 2000. Evaluation of genetic diversity in the Himalayan poplar using RAPD markers. Silvae Genetica 49: 60-66.
Sokal, R.R. & F.J. Rohlf, 1995. Biometry: The Principles and Practice of Statistics in Biological Research. 3rd edn. W.H. Freeman and Co., New York.
Szmidt, A.E., X.R. Wang & M.Z. Lu, 1996. Empirical assessment of allozyme and RAPD variation in Pinus sylvestris (L.) using haploid tissue analysis. Heredity 76: 412-420.
Wang, Z.R., 1996. Plant Allozyme Analysis. Science Press, Beijing, P.R. China. (in Chinese)
Wolff, K. & M. Morgan-Richard, 1999. The use of RAPD data in the analysis of population genetic structure: case study of Alkanna (Boraginaceae) and Plantago (Plantaginaceae). In: P.M. Hollingsworth, R.M. Bateman & R.J. Gornall (Eds.), Molecular Systematics and Plant Evolution, pp. 51-73. Taylor & Francis, London, UK.
Wright, S., 1951. The genetic structure of populations. Annals of Eugenetics 15: 324-354.
Yeh, F.C., D.K.X. Chong & R.C. Yang, 1995. RAPD variation within and among natural populations of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) from Alberta. J Heredity 86: 454-460.
Yeh, F.C., R.C. Yang, T.B.J. Boyle, Z.H. Ye & J.X. Mao, 1997. POPGENE (version 1.31), the User-Friendly Shareware for Population Genetic Analysis. Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Zeng, J., Z.R. Wang, S.L. Zhou, J.Y. Bai & H.S. Zheng, 2003. Allozyme variation and population genetic structure of Betula alnoides from Guangxi, China. Biochem Genet 41: 61-75.
Zeng, J., H.S. Zheng & Q.J. Weng, 1999. Geographic distributions and ecological conditions of Betula alnoides Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don in China. Forest Res 12: 479-484. (in Chinese)
Zeng, J., Y.P. Zou, J.Y. Bai & H.S. Zheng, 2002. Preparation of total DNA from ‘recalcitrant plant taxa’. Acta Botanicia Sinica 44: 694-697.
Zhang, F.M. & S. Ge, 2002. Data analysis in population genetics (I)-Analysis of molecular variance with RAPD data. Biodiversity Sci 10: 438-444. (in Chinese).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zeng, J., Zou, Y., Bai, J. et al. RAPD analysis of genetic variation in natural populations of Betula alnoides from Guangxi, China. Euphytica 134, 33–41 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026113506563
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026113506563