Data from: Molecular and quantitative signatures of biparental inbreeding depression in the self-incompatible tree species Prunus avium

Genetic diversity strongly influences populations’ adaptability to changing environments and therefore survival. Sustainable forest management practices have multiple roles including conservation of genetic resources and timber production. In this study, we aimed at better understanding the variation in genetic diversity among adult and offspring individuals, and the effects of mating system on offspring survival and growth in wild cherry, Prunus avium. We analysed adult trees and open pollinated seed-families from three stands in Germany at eight microsatellite loci and one incompatibility system locus and conducted paternity analyses. Seed viability testing and seed sowing in a nursery allowed further testing for the effects of pollen donor diversity and genetic similarity between mates on the offspring performance at the seed and seedling stages. Our results were contrasting across stands. Loss of genetic diversity from adult to seedling stages and positive effect of mate diversity on offspring performance occurred in one stand only, whereas biparental inbreeding depression and significant decrease in fixation index from adults to seedlings was detected in two stands. We discussed the effects of stand genetic diversity on the magnitude of biparental inbreeding depression at several life-stages and its consequences on the management of genetic resources in P. avium.

遗传多样性（genetic diversity）强烈影响种群对环境变化的适应能力，进而关乎种群存续。可持续森林经营实践兼具多重功能，涵盖遗传资源保护与木材生产等领域。本研究以欧洲甜樱桃（Prunus avium）为研究对象，旨在明晰成体与子代个体间的遗传多样性差异，以及交配系统对子代存活与生长的影响。我们对德国3个林分的成体林木以及开放授粉种子家系展开分析，选取8个微卫星位点（microsatellite loci）与1个不亲和系统位点进行基因分型，并开展父本分析。通过种子活力检测与苗圃播种实验，我们进一步探究了花粉供体多样性、亲本间遗传相似度对种子及幼苗阶段子代适合度的影响。不同林分的研究结果存在显著差异：仅在1个林分中观测到从成体到幼苗阶段的遗传多样性丢失，以及亲本多样性对子代适合度的正向效应；而在2个林分中均检测到双亲近交衰退现象，以及成体到幼苗阶段固定指数（fixation index）的显著下降。我们就林分遗传多样性对不同生活史阶段双亲近交衰退程度的影响，及其对欧洲甜樱桃遗传资源管理的启示展开了讨论。