The Genetic Structure and Demographic History of Potentilla discolor (Rosaceae), a Grassland Plant in East Asia, Based on Genome-Wide SNP Markers

초록

The temperate grassland plant group known as the 'Mansen elements' is widely distributed across the grasslands of East Asia, including Japan. It has been hypothesized that these plants originated in continental regions of East Asia and migrated to Japan during the Quaternary period. However, their origins and migration history remain insufficiently elucidated. In this study, we attempted to infer the phylogeographic history of Potentilla discolor, a Mansen element member, using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis via multiplexed inter-simple sequence repeat genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq) and ecological niche modeling (ENM). The MIG-seq data revealed distinct genetic differentiation between the Japanese and continental populations. Demographic history analysis suggested that initial divergence likely occurred on the East Asian continent. This finding supports the hypothesis of a continental origin for P. discolor. In contrast, chloroplast DNA analysis, commonly used in traditional phylogeographic studies, failed to reveal genetic differentiation between the Japanese and continental populations observed in the SNP-based analyses and provided limited phylogeographic information. ENM analysis predicted that during the Last Glacial Maximum, suitable habitat for P. discolor extended continuously from central China to the Pacific coast of Japan via the exposed continental shelf of the East China Sea, suggesting the possibility that this species was introduced to Japan via that route.

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