The Role of Reproductive Modes in Shaping Genetic Diversity in Polyploids: A Comparative Study of Selfing, Outcrossing, and Apomictic <i>Paspalum</i> Species
Exploring the genetic diversity and reproductive strategies of <i>Paspalum</i> species is essential for advancing forage grass improvement. We compared morpho-phenological, molecular, and genotypic variation in five tetraploid <i>Paspalum</i> species with contrasting mating s...
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2025-02-01
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| author | A. Verena Reutemann Mara Schedler Diego H. Hojsgaard Elsa A. Brugnoli Alex L. Zilli Carlos A. Acuña Ana I. Honfi Eric J. Martínez |
| author_facet | A. Verena Reutemann Mara Schedler Diego H. Hojsgaard Elsa A. Brugnoli Alex L. Zilli Carlos A. Acuña Ana I. Honfi Eric J. Martínez |
| author_sort | A. Verena Reutemann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Exploring the genetic diversity and reproductive strategies of <i>Paspalum</i> species is essential for advancing forage grass improvement. We compared morpho-phenological, molecular, and genotypic variation in five tetraploid <i>Paspalum</i> species with contrasting mating systems and reproductive modes. Contrary to previous findings, selfing (<i>Paspalum regnellii</i> and <i>P. urvillei</i>) and outcrossing (<i>P. durifolium</i> and <i>P. ionanthum</i>) species exhibited similar phenotypic diversity patterns, with low intrapopulation variability and no morphological differentiation among populations. The apomictic species (<i>P. intermedium</i>) exhibited low intrapopulation phenotypic variation but high population differentiation, indicative of genetic drift and local adaptation. Outcrossing species showed greater intrapopulation genotypic variation than selfing species, which displayed a high population structure due to restricted pollen migration. The apomictic species exhibited the lowest intrapopulation molecular diversity, forming uniclonal populations with high interpopulation differentiation, highlighting the fixation of distinct gene pools via apomixis. This is the first report about genetic diversity in populations of sexual allopolyploid species of <i>Paspalum</i>. Population structure in these allotetraploid <i>Paspalum</i> species is primarily shaped by how reproductive modes, mating systems, and geographic distribution influence gene flow via pollen and seeds. Our findings contribute significantly to the conservation and genetic improvement of forage grasses, particularly for developing cultivars with enhanced adaptability and productivity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-30c37f18c5c9472f93fa8b6262ae40f0 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-30c37f18c5c9472f93fa8b6262ae40f02025-08-20T02:48:10ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-02-0114347610.3390/plants14030476The Role of Reproductive Modes in Shaping Genetic Diversity in Polyploids: A Comparative Study of Selfing, Outcrossing, and Apomictic <i>Paspalum</i> SpeciesA. Verena Reutemann0Mara Schedler1Diego H. Hojsgaard2Elsa A. Brugnoli3Alex L. Zilli4Carlos A. Acuña5Ana I. Honfi6Eric J. Martínez7Grupo de Genética y Mejoramiento de Especies Forrajeras, Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (CONICET-UNNE), Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste (FCA-UNNE), Corrientes 3400, ArgentinaEstación Experimental Agropecuaria Montecarlo, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Posadas 3300, ArgentinaLeibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 06466 Gatersleben, GermanyGrupo de Genética y Mejoramiento de Especies Forrajeras, Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (CONICET-UNNE), Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste (FCA-UNNE), Corrientes 3400, ArgentinaGrupo de Genética y Mejoramiento de Especies Forrajeras, Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (CONICET-UNNE), Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste (FCA-UNNE), Corrientes 3400, ArgentinaGrupo de Genética y Mejoramiento de Especies Forrajeras, Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (CONICET-UNNE), Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste (FCA-UNNE), Corrientes 3400, ArgentinaPrograma de Estudios Florísticos y Genética Vegetal, Instituto de Biología Subtropical (CONICET-UNaM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones (FCEQyN-UNaM), Posadas 3300, ArgentinaGrupo de Genética y Mejoramiento de Especies Forrajeras, Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (CONICET-UNNE), Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste (FCA-UNNE), Corrientes 3400, ArgentinaExploring the genetic diversity and reproductive strategies of <i>Paspalum</i> species is essential for advancing forage grass improvement. We compared morpho-phenological, molecular, and genotypic variation in five tetraploid <i>Paspalum</i> species with contrasting mating systems and reproductive modes. Contrary to previous findings, selfing (<i>Paspalum regnellii</i> and <i>P. urvillei</i>) and outcrossing (<i>P. durifolium</i> and <i>P. ionanthum</i>) species exhibited similar phenotypic diversity patterns, with low intrapopulation variability and no morphological differentiation among populations. The apomictic species (<i>P. intermedium</i>) exhibited low intrapopulation phenotypic variation but high population differentiation, indicative of genetic drift and local adaptation. Outcrossing species showed greater intrapopulation genotypic variation than selfing species, which displayed a high population structure due to restricted pollen migration. The apomictic species exhibited the lowest intrapopulation molecular diversity, forming uniclonal populations with high interpopulation differentiation, highlighting the fixation of distinct gene pools via apomixis. This is the first report about genetic diversity in populations of sexual allopolyploid species of <i>Paspalum</i>. Population structure in these allotetraploid <i>Paspalum</i> species is primarily shaped by how reproductive modes, mating systems, and geographic distribution influence gene flow via pollen and seeds. Our findings contribute significantly to the conservation and genetic improvement of forage grasses, particularly for developing cultivars with enhanced adaptability and productivity.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/3/476apomixismating systemsoutcrossing<i>Paspalum</i>population structureselfing |
| spellingShingle | A. Verena Reutemann Mara Schedler Diego H. Hojsgaard Elsa A. Brugnoli Alex L. Zilli Carlos A. Acuña Ana I. Honfi Eric J. Martínez The Role of Reproductive Modes in Shaping Genetic Diversity in Polyploids: A Comparative Study of Selfing, Outcrossing, and Apomictic <i>Paspalum</i> Species Plants apomixis mating systems outcrossing <i>Paspalum</i> population structure selfing |
| title | The Role of Reproductive Modes in Shaping Genetic Diversity in Polyploids: A Comparative Study of Selfing, Outcrossing, and Apomictic <i>Paspalum</i> Species |
| title_full | The Role of Reproductive Modes in Shaping Genetic Diversity in Polyploids: A Comparative Study of Selfing, Outcrossing, and Apomictic <i>Paspalum</i> Species |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Reproductive Modes in Shaping Genetic Diversity in Polyploids: A Comparative Study of Selfing, Outcrossing, and Apomictic <i>Paspalum</i> Species |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Reproductive Modes in Shaping Genetic Diversity in Polyploids: A Comparative Study of Selfing, Outcrossing, and Apomictic <i>Paspalum</i> Species |
| title_short | The Role of Reproductive Modes in Shaping Genetic Diversity in Polyploids: A Comparative Study of Selfing, Outcrossing, and Apomictic <i>Paspalum</i> Species |
| title_sort | role of reproductive modes in shaping genetic diversity in polyploids a comparative study of selfing outcrossing and apomictic i paspalum i species |
| topic | apomixis mating systems outcrossing <i>Paspalum</i> population structure selfing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/3/476 |
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