Assessing the Genetic Identity of Tuscan Sweet Chestnut (<i>Castanea sativa</i> Mill.)
The sweet chestnut (<i>Castanea sativa</i> Mill.) is an important species of European trees, studied for both ecological and economic reasons. Its cultivation in the Italian peninsula can be linked to the Roman period and has been documented, especially in the Tuscan region, for centurie...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/7/967 |
| _version_ | 1797406473590931456 |
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| author | Marta Cavallini Gianluca Lombardo Giorgio Binelli Claudio Cantini |
| author_facet | Marta Cavallini Gianluca Lombardo Giorgio Binelli Claudio Cantini |
| author_sort | Marta Cavallini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The sweet chestnut (<i>Castanea sativa</i> Mill.) is an important species of European trees, studied for both ecological and economic reasons. Its cultivation in the Italian peninsula can be linked to the Roman period and has been documented, especially in the Tuscan region, for centuries. We sampled 131 grafted trees from three separate areas to determine the genetic variability between populations and assess genetic identity for different varieties of trees, which is useful for future breeding programs and propagation efforts. Molecular analyses were performed using eight microsatellite loci. A total of 98 alleles was detected with an average of 12.3 alleles per locus. We found high levels of genetic diversity within the varieties of the same area, ranging between <i>H<sub>e</sub></i> = 0.682–0.745. Of the eight loci, seven were found to be at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. (<i>F</i><sub>ST</sub> values Differentiation between cultivation areas was significant between 0.052–0.147) with the two Southern Tuscan areas showing the closest relationship as also indicated by Bayesian inference of the population structure, which revealed the existence of three ancestral gene pools of origin. Demographic events were detected by a coalescent-based approximate Bayesian computation in two of the homogeneous clusters. This work is a step forward for the conservation of this iconic species, albeit at a regional level, as chestnut varieties have never received the full attention of breeders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:25:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f3a1ed93c9a545b792b187924f3ace6a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:25:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-f3a1ed93c9a545b792b187924f3ace6a2023-12-03T15:02:39ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-06-0113796710.3390/f13070967Assessing the Genetic Identity of Tuscan Sweet Chestnut (<i>Castanea sativa</i> Mill.)Marta Cavallini0Gianluca Lombardo1Giorgio Binelli2Claudio Cantini3Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences (DBSV), Università degli Studi dell’Insubria, 21100 Varese, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnology and Life Sciences (DBSV), Università degli Studi dell’Insubria, 21100 Varese, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnology and Life Sciences (DBSV), Università degli Studi dell’Insubria, 21100 Varese, ItalyInstitute of Bioeconomy (IBE), Consiglio Nazionale Ricerche (CNR), 58022 Follonica, ItalyThe sweet chestnut (<i>Castanea sativa</i> Mill.) is an important species of European trees, studied for both ecological and economic reasons. Its cultivation in the Italian peninsula can be linked to the Roman period and has been documented, especially in the Tuscan region, for centuries. We sampled 131 grafted trees from three separate areas to determine the genetic variability between populations and assess genetic identity for different varieties of trees, which is useful for future breeding programs and propagation efforts. Molecular analyses were performed using eight microsatellite loci. A total of 98 alleles was detected with an average of 12.3 alleles per locus. We found high levels of genetic diversity within the varieties of the same area, ranging between <i>H<sub>e</sub></i> = 0.682–0.745. Of the eight loci, seven were found to be at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. (<i>F</i><sub>ST</sub> values Differentiation between cultivation areas was significant between 0.052–0.147) with the two Southern Tuscan areas showing the closest relationship as also indicated by Bayesian inference of the population structure, which revealed the existence of three ancestral gene pools of origin. Demographic events were detected by a coalescent-based approximate Bayesian computation in two of the homogeneous clusters. This work is a step forward for the conservation of this iconic species, albeit at a regional level, as chestnut varieties have never received the full attention of breeders.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/7/967<i>Castanea sativa</i>sweet chestnutforest biodiversitypopulation geneticsconservation strategies |
| spellingShingle | Marta Cavallini Gianluca Lombardo Giorgio Binelli Claudio Cantini Assessing the Genetic Identity of Tuscan Sweet Chestnut (<i>Castanea sativa</i> Mill.) Forests <i>Castanea sativa</i> sweet chestnut forest biodiversity population genetics conservation strategies |
| title | Assessing the Genetic Identity of Tuscan Sweet Chestnut (<i>Castanea sativa</i> Mill.) |
| title_full | Assessing the Genetic Identity of Tuscan Sweet Chestnut (<i>Castanea sativa</i> Mill.) |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the Genetic Identity of Tuscan Sweet Chestnut (<i>Castanea sativa</i> Mill.) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the Genetic Identity of Tuscan Sweet Chestnut (<i>Castanea sativa</i> Mill.) |
| title_short | Assessing the Genetic Identity of Tuscan Sweet Chestnut (<i>Castanea sativa</i> Mill.) |
| title_sort | assessing the genetic identity of tuscan sweet chestnut i castanea sativa i mill |
| topic | <i>Castanea sativa</i> sweet chestnut forest biodiversity population genetics conservation strategies |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/7/967 |
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