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Intraspecific and interspecific genetic and phylogenetic relationships in the genus Populus based on AFLP markers

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Abstract

Although Populus has become the model genus for molecular genetics and genomics research on forest trees, genetic and phylogenetic relationships within this genus have not yet been comprehensively studied at the molecular level. By using 151 AFLP® (AFLP® is a registered trademark of Keygene) markers, 178 accessions belonging to 25 poplar species and three interspecific hybrids were analyzed, using three accessions belonging to two willow species as outgroups. The genetic and phylogenetic relationships were generally consistent with the known taxonomy, although notable exceptions were observed. A dendrogram as well as a single most parsimonious tree, ordered the Populus sections from the oldest Leuce to the latest Aigeiros, a pattern consistent with their known evolutionary relationships. A close relationship between Populus deltoides of the Aigeiros section and species of the Tacamahaca section was observed and, with the exception of Populus wilsonii, between the species of the Leucoides, Tacamahaca, and Aigeiros sections. Populus nigra was clearly separated from its consectional P. deltoides, and should be classified separately from P. deltoides. The AFLP profiles pointed out to the lack of divergence between some species and revealed that some accessions corresponded with interspecific hybrids. This molecular study provides useful information about genetic relationships among several Populus species and, together with morphological descriptions and crossability, it may help review and update systematic classification within the Populus genus.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Marijke Steenackers, Boudewijn Michiels, An Vanden Broeck and Jos Van Slycken (Institute for Forestry and Game Management, Geraardsbergen, Belgium), Patricia Faivre-Rampant and Marc Villar (Station d’Amélioration des Arbres Forestiers, Ardon, France), Stefano Bisoffi (Istituto di Sperimentazione per la Pioppicoltura, Casale Monferrato, Italy), Eduardo Notivol (Servicio de Investigación Agraria de Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain), Gerry Douglas (Teagasc, Dublin, Ireland), Dirk Demeyere (Nationale Plantentuin van België, Meise, Belgium), Johan Possemiers (Arboretum Kalmthout, Kalmthout, Belgium), Christa Maes (Hof ter Saksen, Beveren, Belgium), Toby Bradshaw (University of Washington, Seattle, USA), Karl Gebhardt (Hessische Landesanstalt für Forsteinrichtung, Waldökologie und Waldforschung, Hann. Münden, Germany), and Luis Herrera-Estrella (Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, México D.F., México) for providing plant material and advice on genotypes to be analyzed, Carlos Malpica for his valuable comments on the manuscript, and Martine De Cock for help in preparing it. This work was supported by grants from the Flemish Government (BNO/BB/6/1994,1995), the Commission of the European Communities programs (AIR1-CT92-0349 and BIO4CT96-076), and, in part, by an NSERC Discovery Grant (RGPIN0170651) to O.P.R. This research represents publication FGB0016 from the Forest Genetics and Biotechnology Group (Dalhousie University) and Canada Research Chair in Forest and Conservation Genomics and Biotechnology (University of New Brunswick). M.-T.C. is indebted to the European Union for an individual fellowship from the Human Capital Mobility program (41AS8694).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Systems Biology, Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, 9052, Gent, Belgium

    M. T. Cervera, V. Storme, B. Ivens, M. Van Montagu & W. Boerjan

  2. Genética y Ecofisiología Forestal, Centro de Investigaciones Forestales, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    M. T. Cervera & A. Soto

  3. Department of Biology, Life Sciences Centre, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4J1, Canada

    O. P. Rajora

  4. Canada Research Chair in Forest and Conservation Genomics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, E3B 6C2, Canada

    O. P. Rajora

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  1. M. T. Cervera
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  2. V. Storme
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  3. A. Soto
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  4. B. Ivens
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  5. M. Van Montagu
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  6. O. P. Rajora
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  7. W. Boerjan
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Correspondence to W. Boerjan.

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Communicated by D. B. Neale

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Cervera, M.T., Storme, V., Soto, A. et al. Intraspecific and interspecific genetic and phylogenetic relationships in the genus Populus based on AFLP markers. Theor Appl Genet 111, 1440–1456 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-005-0076-2

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