R-gene variation across Arabidopsis lyrata subspecies: effects of population structure, selection and mating system

Buckley, J., Kilbride, E., Cevik, V., Vicente, J. G., Holub, E. B. and Mable, B. K. (2016) R-gene variation across Arabidopsis lyrata subspecies: effects of population structure, selection and mating system. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 16, 93. (doi: 10.1186/s12862-016-0665-5) (PMID:27150007) (PMCID:PMC4858910)

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Abstract

Background: Examining allelic variation of R-genes in closely related perennial species of Arabidopsis thaliana is critical to understanding how population structure and ecology interact with selection to shape the evolution of innate immunity in plants. We finely sampled natural populations of Arabidopsis lyrata from the Great Lakes region of North America (A. l. lyrata) and broadly sampled six European countries (A. l. petraea) to investigate allelic variation of two R-genes (RPM1 and WRR4) and neutral genetic markers (Restriction Associated DNA sequences and microsatellites) in relation to mating system, phylogeographic structure and subspecies divergence. Results: Fine-scale sampling of populations revealed strong effects of mating system and population structure on patterns of polymorphism for both neutral loci and R-genes, with no strong evidence for selection. Broad geographic sampling revealed evidence of balancing selection maintaining polymorphism in R-genes, with elevated heterozygosity and diversity compared to neutral expectations and sharing of alleles among diverged subspecies. Codon-based tests detected both positive and purifying selection for both R-genes, as commonly found for animal immune genes. Conclusions: Our results highlight that combining fine and broad-scale sampling strategies can reveal the multiple factors influencing polymorphism and divergence at potentially adaptive genes such as R-genes.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Mable, Professor Barbara and Kilbride, Mrs Elizabeth and Buckley, Dr James
Authors: Buckley, J., Kilbride, E., Cevik, V., Vicente, J. G., Holub, E. B., and Mable, B. K.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:BMC Evolutionary Biology
Publisher:BioMed Central
ISSN:1471-2148
ISSN (Online):1471-2148
Published Online:05 May 2016
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2016 Buckley et al.
First Published:First published in BMC Evolutionary Biology 16: 93
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
536551Assessing the impact of plant mating system and ploidy on adaptation to parasitism in changing environmentsBarbara MableNatural Environment Research Council (NERC)NE/H021183/1RI BIODIVERSITY ANIMAL HEALTH & COMPMED