The Role of Polyploidy in the Genetic Structure and Expansion of Lepisorus clathratus in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and Hengduan Mountains.

ABSTRACT: Polyploidy plays a crucial role in plant evolution, particularly in shaping genetic diversity and geographic distribution. This study investigates the genetic diversity and distribution of Lepisorus clathratus (C. B. Clarke) Ching, a polyploid fern species endemic to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and Hengduan Mountains. We sampled 586 individuals from 66 populations and identified three ploidy levels: diploid, tetraploid, and hexaploid. Flow cytometry and chloroplast DNA sequencing were used to assess ploidy variation and genetic structure. Tetraploid populations dominated the Hengduan Mountains and exhibited wider geographic ranges, while diploids were largely confined to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Molecular variance analysis revealed significant genetic differentiation among regio

SUBMITTER: Zhao C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11597778 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature