Genetic and epigenetic changes during the invasion of a cosmopolitan species (Phragmites australis)

While many introduced invasive species can increase genetic diversity through multiple introductions and/or hybridization to colonize successfully in new environments, others with low genetic diversity have to persist by alternative mechanisms such as epigenetic variation. Given that Phragmites australis is a cosmopolitan reed growing in a wide range of habitats and its invasion history, especially in North America, has been relatively well studied, it provides an ideal system for studying the role and relationship of genetic and epigenetic variation in biological invasions. We used amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and methylation-sensitive (MS) - AFLP methods to evaluate genetic and epigenetic diversity and structure in groups of the common reed across its range in the world. Evidence from analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) based on AFLP and MS-AFLP data supported the previous conclusion that the invasive introduced populations of P. australis in North America were fro...

尽管诸多外来入侵物种可通过多次引入和/或杂交提升遗传多样性，进而在新环境中成功定殖，但部分遗传多样性较低的入侵类群需借助表观遗传变异等替代机制得以存续。鉴于芦苇（Phragmites australis）是一种广布于多样生境的世界性芦苇类植物，且其入侵历史（尤其在北美地区）已得到较为充分的研究，该物种为探究生物入侵过程中遗传与表观遗传变异的作用及相互关系提供了理想的研究体系。本研究采用扩增片段长度多态性（AFLP）与甲基化敏感扩增片段长度多态性（MS-AFLP）技术，对全球分布范围内普通芦苇的遗传与表观遗传多样性及群体结构进行了评估。基于AFLP和MS-AFLP数据的分子方差分析（AMOVA）结果，佐证了此前的结论：北美地区的外来入侵芦苇（P. australis）种群为……