Ecotypic divergence in Mongolian Scots pine persists via large-effect genetic adaptation and phenotypic plasticity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Understanding how ecotypic divergence persists under extensive gene flow is critical for predicting adaptive responses in long-lived conifers. Mongolian Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) occupies contrasting mountain and sandy-dune habitats in northeastern China, forming two ecotypes with distinct environmental adaptations. Using reference-free Specific Locus Amplified Fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) data and genome-wide SNPs, we explored patterns of genomic differentiation and genotype-environment associations to determine whether adaptive divergence is driven by few large-effect loci or polygenic shifts.

Results

Despite weak population structure, we identified ~ 3% of the genome as adaptive outliers with strong differentiation between ecotypes. These l

SUBMITTER: Wuyuntana 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12659373 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature