Crop to wild gene flow and genetic diversity in a vulnerable Macadamia (Proteaceae) species in New South Wales, Australia

Katie M O'Connor; Michael A Powell; Catherine Nock; Alison Shapcott

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2015.08.001

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Crop to wild gene flow and genetic diversity in a vulnerable Macadamia (Proteaceae) species in New South Wales, Australia

Journal article

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Crop to wild gene flow and genetic diversity in a vulnerable Macadamia (Proteaceae) species in New South Wales, Australia

Katie M O'Connor, Michael A Powell, Catherine Nock and Alison Shapcott

Biological Conservation, Vol.191, pp.504-511

2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2015.08.001

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Abstract

wild relative

pollination

hybrid

rainforest

genetic diversity

microsatellite

Habitat fragmentation is a leading threat to biodiversity, with extinction rates increasing as anthropogenic alteration of the environment increases. Crop to wild hybridisation is a threat to biodiversity resulting from native vegetation being replaced with agriculture and crops. Remnant populations of Australia's vulnerable subtropical rainforest tree Macadamia tetraphylla are potentially threatened by hybridisation with M. integrifolia orchard crops. Leaf samples were taken from ten crop-wild population sites across the distribution of M. tetraphylla in New South Wales, Australia. Microsatellite markers were used to investigate the presence of marker alleles from cultivars in wild populations, and genetic diversity within and among wild M. tetraphylla populations. Despite the small size of the wild M. tetraphylla populations, relatively high genetic diversity and low inbreeding were observed. This study found that M. integrifolia orchard trees pollinated wild M. tetraphylla trees, and that orchard seeds dispersed into wild populations, providing the first evidence of crop-wild gene flow in macadamia. Pollen flow between relatively close wild populations maintains genetic diversity, reduces inbreeding, and also enables gene flow from nearby M. integrifolia orchards. The potential for crop to wild gene flow and hybridisation risks the integrity and persistence of wild populations.

Details

Title: Crop to wild gene flow and genetic diversity in a vulnerable Macadamia (Proteaceae) species in New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Katie M O'Connor (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Michael A Powell (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Catherine Nock (Author) - Southern Cross University
Alison Shapcott (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Publication details: Biological Conservation, Vol.191, pp.504-511
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date published: 2015
DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2015.08.001
ISSN: 0006-3207
Organisation Unit: Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering; School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449359302621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Biodiversity Conservation; Ecology; Environmental Sciences