A species-discriminatory single-nucleotide polymorphism set reveals maintenance of species integrity in hybridizing European white oaks (Quercus spp.) despite high levels of admixture.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Hybridization and introgression play an important role in the evolution and diversification of plants. To assess the degree of past and current hybridization, the level of genetic admixture in populations needs to be investigated. Ongoing hybridization and blurred species separation have made it challenging to assign European white oak taxa based on leaf morphology and/or genetic markers and to assess the level of admixture. Therefore, there is a need for powerful markers that differentiate between taxa. Here, we established a condensed set of single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers to reliably differentiate between the three most common oak species in temperate European forests (Quercus robur, Q. petraea, Q. pubescens) and to assess the degree of admixture

SUBMITTER: Reutimann O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7102958 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature