Panmixia defines the genetic diversity of a unique arthropod-dispersed fungus specific to Protea flowers
Date
2014-09
Authors
Aylward, Janneke
Dreyer, Leanne L.
Steenkamp, Emma T.
Wingfield, Michael J.
Roets, Francois
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Wiley Open Access
Abstract
Knoxdaviesia proteae, a fungus specific to the floral structures of the iconic Cape Floral Kingdom plant, Protea repens, is dispersed by mites phoretic on beetles that pollinate these flowers. Although the vectors of K. proteae have been identified, little is known regarding its patterns of distribution. Seed bearing infructescences of P. repens were sampled from current and previous flowering seasons, from which K. proteae individuals were isolated and cultured. The genotypes of K. proteae isolates were determined using 12 microsatellite markers specific to this species. Genetic diversity indices showed a high level of similarity between K. proteae isolates from the two different infructescence age classes. The heterozygosity of the population was high (0.74 +- 0.04), and exceptional genotypic diversity was encountered (^G = 97.87%). Population differentiation was negligible, owing to the numerous migrants between the infructescence age classes (Nm = 47.83) and between P. repens trees (Nm = 2.96). Parsimony analysis revealed interconnected genotypes, indicative of recombination and homoplasies, and the index of linkage disequilibrium confirmed that outcrossing is prevalent in K. proteae (rd = 0.0067; P = 0.132). The high diversity and panmixia in this population is likely a result of regular gene flow and an outcrossing reproductive strategy. The lack of genetic cohesion between individuals from a single P. repens tree suggests that K. proteae dispersal does not primarily occur over short distances via mites as hypothesized, but rather that longdistance dispersal by beetles plays an important part in the biology of these intriguing fungi.
Description
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
The original publication is available at http://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Please cite as follows:
Aylward, J. et al. 2014. Panmixia defines the genetic diversity of a unique arthropod-dispersed fungus specific to Protea flowers. Ecology and Evolution, 4(17): 3444-3455, doi:10.1002/ece3.1149.
The original publication is available at http://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Please cite as follows:
Aylward, J. et al. 2014. Panmixia defines the genetic diversity of a unique arthropod-dispersed fungus specific to Protea flowers. Ecology and Evolution, 4(17): 3444-3455, doi:10.1002/ece3.1149.
Keywords
Knoxdaviesia proteae, Ophiostomatoid fungi, Panmixia
Citation
Aylward, J. et al. 2014. Panmixia defines the genetic diversity of a unique arthropod-dispersed fungus specific to Protea flowers. Ecology and Evolution, 4(17):3444-3455, doi:10.1002/ece3.1149.