Population Substructures of <i>Castanopsis tribuloides</i> in Northern Thailand Revealed Using Autosomal STR Variations

This study investigates the genetic diversity and population structure of <i>Castanopsis tribuloides</i>, a vital tree species in Asian forest ecosystems. Understanding the genetic patterns of keystone forest species provides critical insights into forest resilience and ecosystem functio...

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Main Authors: Patcharawadee Thongkumkoon, Jatupol Kampuansai, Maneesawan Dansawan, Pimonrat Tiansawat, Nuttapol Noirungsee, Kittiyut Punchay, Nuttaluck Khamyong, Prasit Wangpakapattanawong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/15/2306
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author Patcharawadee Thongkumkoon
Jatupol Kampuansai
Maneesawan Dansawan
Pimonrat Tiansawat
Nuttapol Noirungsee
Kittiyut Punchay
Nuttaluck Khamyong
Prasit Wangpakapattanawong
author_facet Patcharawadee Thongkumkoon
Jatupol Kampuansai
Maneesawan Dansawan
Pimonrat Tiansawat
Nuttapol Noirungsee
Kittiyut Punchay
Nuttaluck Khamyong
Prasit Wangpakapattanawong
author_sort Patcharawadee Thongkumkoon
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the genetic diversity and population structure of <i>Castanopsis tribuloides</i>, a vital tree species in Asian forest ecosystems. Understanding the genetic patterns of keystone forest species provides critical insights into forest resilience and ecosystem function and informs conservation strategies. We analyzed population samples collected from three distinct locations within Doi Suthep Mountain in northern Thailand using Short Tandem Repeat (STR) markers to assess both intra- and inter-population genetic relationships. DNA was extracted from leaf samples and analyzed using a panel of polymorphic microsatellite loci specifically optimized for <i>Castanopsis</i> species. Statistical analyses included the assessment of forensic parameters (number of alleles, observed and expected heterozygosity, gene diversity, polymorphic information content), population differentiation metrics (G<sub>ST</sub>), inbreeding coefficients (F<sub>IS</sub>), and gene flow estimates (N<sub>m</sub>). We further examined population history through bottleneck analysis using three models (IAM, SMM, and TPM) and visualized genetic relationships through principal coordinate analysis and cluster analysis. Our results revealed significant patterns of genetic structuring across the sampled populations, with genetic distance metrics showing statistically significant differentiation between certain population pairs. The PCA and cluster analyses confirmed distinct population groupings that correspond to geographic distribution patterns. These findings provide the first comprehensive assessment of <i>C. tribuloides</i> population genetics in this region, establishing baseline data for monitoring genetic diversity and informing conservation strategies. This research contributes to our understanding of how landscape features and ecological factors shape genetic diversity patterns in essential forest tree species, with implications for managing forest genetic resources in the face of environmental change.
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spelling doaj-art-aee0b42831b54f5f804f1b7cc9ddf63d2025-08-20T03:02:58ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-07-011415230610.3390/plants14152306Population Substructures of <i>Castanopsis tribuloides</i> in Northern Thailand Revealed Using Autosomal STR VariationsPatcharawadee Thongkumkoon0Jatupol Kampuansai1Maneesawan Dansawan2Pimonrat Tiansawat3Nuttapol Noirungsee4Kittiyut Punchay5Nuttaluck Khamyong6Prasit Wangpakapattanawong7Center of Multidisciplinary Technology for Advanced Medicine (CMUTEAM), Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandQueen Sirikit Botanic Garden, The Botanical Garden Organization, Chiang Mai 50180, ThailandDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandThis study investigates the genetic diversity and population structure of <i>Castanopsis tribuloides</i>, a vital tree species in Asian forest ecosystems. Understanding the genetic patterns of keystone forest species provides critical insights into forest resilience and ecosystem function and informs conservation strategies. We analyzed population samples collected from three distinct locations within Doi Suthep Mountain in northern Thailand using Short Tandem Repeat (STR) markers to assess both intra- and inter-population genetic relationships. DNA was extracted from leaf samples and analyzed using a panel of polymorphic microsatellite loci specifically optimized for <i>Castanopsis</i> species. Statistical analyses included the assessment of forensic parameters (number of alleles, observed and expected heterozygosity, gene diversity, polymorphic information content), population differentiation metrics (G<sub>ST</sub>), inbreeding coefficients (F<sub>IS</sub>), and gene flow estimates (N<sub>m</sub>). We further examined population history through bottleneck analysis using three models (IAM, SMM, and TPM) and visualized genetic relationships through principal coordinate analysis and cluster analysis. Our results revealed significant patterns of genetic structuring across the sampled populations, with genetic distance metrics showing statistically significant differentiation between certain population pairs. The PCA and cluster analyses confirmed distinct population groupings that correspond to geographic distribution patterns. These findings provide the first comprehensive assessment of <i>C. tribuloides</i> population genetics in this region, establishing baseline data for monitoring genetic diversity and informing conservation strategies. This research contributes to our understanding of how landscape features and ecological factors shape genetic diversity patterns in essential forest tree species, with implications for managing forest genetic resources in the face of environmental change.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/15/2306genetic diversitypopulation structureSTR markers<i>Castanopsis tribuloides</i>forest conservationThailand
spellingShingle Patcharawadee Thongkumkoon
Jatupol Kampuansai
Maneesawan Dansawan
Pimonrat Tiansawat
Nuttapol Noirungsee
Kittiyut Punchay
Nuttaluck Khamyong
Prasit Wangpakapattanawong
Population Substructures of <i>Castanopsis tribuloides</i> in Northern Thailand Revealed Using Autosomal STR Variations
Plants
genetic diversity
population structure
STR markers
<i>Castanopsis tribuloides</i>
forest conservation
Thailand
title Population Substructures of <i>Castanopsis tribuloides</i> in Northern Thailand Revealed Using Autosomal STR Variations
title_full Population Substructures of <i>Castanopsis tribuloides</i> in Northern Thailand Revealed Using Autosomal STR Variations
title_fullStr Population Substructures of <i>Castanopsis tribuloides</i> in Northern Thailand Revealed Using Autosomal STR Variations
title_full_unstemmed Population Substructures of <i>Castanopsis tribuloides</i> in Northern Thailand Revealed Using Autosomal STR Variations
title_short Population Substructures of <i>Castanopsis tribuloides</i> in Northern Thailand Revealed Using Autosomal STR Variations
title_sort population substructures of i castanopsis tribuloides i in northern thailand revealed using autosomal str variations
topic genetic diversity
population structure
STR markers
<i>Castanopsis tribuloides</i>
forest conservation
Thailand
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/15/2306
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