TY - JOUR
T1 - Analysis of genetic variation in natural populations of Medicago truncatula of southern Tunisian ecological areas, using morphological traits and SSR markers
AU - Arraouadi, Soumaya
AU - Badri, Mounawer
AU - Jaleel, Cheruth Abdul
AU - Djébali, Naceur
AU - Ilahi, Houcine
AU - Huguet, Thierry
AU - Aouani, Mohamed Elarbi
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgements We thank Eric von Wettberg (University of California Davis, USA) for a critical reading of the manuscript, Wael Taamalli (Centre of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, Tunisia) for his excellent statistical analysis help and both anonymous reviewers for helpful comments. This research was partially supported by Tunisian-French collaborative programs (CMCU 00F0909 and PICS 712).
PY - 2009/11
Y1 - 2009/11
N2 - We used 19 quantitative traits and 14 microsatellite markers (SSRs) to analyze the genetic variation in four natural populations of the model legume Medicago truncatula sampled in southern Tunisia. The greatest genetic variation of quantitative traits and molecular markers occurred within populations (>71%). In contrast to quantitative population differentiation (QST=0.09), a high level of molecular differentiation (FST=0.23) was found among populations. The majority of quantitative traits exhibited QST values significantly less than FST values, suggesting that selection may be acting to suppress differentiation for these traits. There was no significant correlation between genetic variation of quantitative traits and molecular markers within populations. On the other hand, significant correlations were found between measured quantitative characters and the site-of-origin environmental factors. The eco-geographical factors with the greatest influence on the variation of measured traits among populations were altitude, followed by soil texture, assimilated phosphorus (P2O5) and organic matter. Nevertheless, there were no consistent patterns of associations between gene diversity (He) and eco-geographical factors.
AB - We used 19 quantitative traits and 14 microsatellite markers (SSRs) to analyze the genetic variation in four natural populations of the model legume Medicago truncatula sampled in southern Tunisia. The greatest genetic variation of quantitative traits and molecular markers occurred within populations (>71%). In contrast to quantitative population differentiation (QST=0.09), a high level of molecular differentiation (FST=0.23) was found among populations. The majority of quantitative traits exhibited QST values significantly less than FST values, suggesting that selection may be acting to suppress differentiation for these traits. There was no significant correlation between genetic variation of quantitative traits and molecular markers within populations. On the other hand, significant correlations were found between measured quantitative characters and the site-of-origin environmental factors. The eco-geographical factors with the greatest influence on the variation of measured traits among populations were altitude, followed by soil texture, assimilated phosphorus (P2O5) and organic matter. Nevertheless, there were no consistent patterns of associations between gene diversity (He) and eco-geographical factors.
KW - Eco-geographical factors
KW - F
KW - Genetic variation
KW - M. truncatula
KW - Q
KW - Quantitative traits
KW - SSR markers
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U2 - 10.1007/s12042-009-9034-5
DO - 10.1007/s12042-009-9034-5
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:70849135150
SN - 1935-9756
VL - 2
SP - 122
EP - 132
JO - Tropical Plant Biology
JF - Tropical Plant Biology
IS - 3
ER -