Notes on genetic variation in Sedum sarmentosum (Crassulaceae): Implications for the origin of southern Korean populations

정미윤,Jordi López-Pujol,정명기 한국식물분류학회 2016 식물 분류학회지 Vol.46 No.4

The succulent herbaceous perennial Sedum sarmentosum commonly grows in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. It is a species native to China, most likely introduced into Korea due to its edible and medicinal uses. If plants were introduced from a single source, we would expect no or low levels of genetic variation in Korean populations. Alternatively, if plants were introduced from multiple sources, we would expect, in contrast, high levels of genetic diversity. To test which is more likely, we surveyed the degree of allozyme variation in ten populations of this species from southern Korea. We found that S. sarmentosum was monomorphic at all fifteen allozyme loci. However, two congeners (S. polytrichoides and S. kamtschaticum) and two related species (Hylotelephium ussuriense and H. verticillatum) maintain moderate to high levels of genetic diversity (He = 0.144, 0.203, 0.201, and 0.204, respectively). We suggest that southern Korean populations of S. sarmentosum likely descended from a single introduction of a few plants and then became naturalized exclusively via vegetative spreading (as plants in Korea, but also as occurs in other parts of its native and naturalized range, are sterile).

Lack of allozyme variation in the two carnivorous, terrestrial herbs Utricularia bifida and Utricularia caerulea (Lentibulariaceae) co-occurring on wetlands in South Korea: Inference of population history

정미윤,Jordi López-Pujol,정명기 한국식물분류학회 2017 식물 분류학회지 Vol.47 No.4

In central and southern Korea, the two small insectivorous, terrestrial herbs, Utricularia bifida and U. caerulea, often co-occur at wet locations (or in wetlands). The Korean Peninsula (with central China and northern Japan) constitutes the northern edge of their distribution, as their main range is subtropical and tropical Asia. The Korean populations of both species are very likely of post-glacial origin, given that warm-temperate vegetation was absent from the Korean Peninsula during the Last Glacial Maximum. Two hypotheses of the post-glacial colonization of the peninsula can be formulated; first, if current populations were founded by propagules coming from a single ancestral population (i.e., a single refugium), we would expect low levels of genetic diversity. Alternatively, if contemporary Korean populations originated from multiple sources (multiple refugia), we would expect high levels of genetic variation. To test which is more likely, we surveyed the degree of allozyme variation at 20 loci in ten populations for each of the two species from southern Korea. We found no allozyme variation within each species. However, their aquatic congener U. australis exhibited allozyme polymorphism across Japan (four polymorphic loci at three enzyme systems). We suggest that southern Korean populations of Utricularia bifida and U. caerulea were established by a single introduction event from a genetically depauperate ancestral population.

Notes on fine-scale spatial distribution of three Cephalanthera species (Orchidaceae) that grow in sympatry in Korea: Implications for maintenance of species boundaries

정미윤,Jordi López-Pujol,정명기 한국식물분류학회 2017 식물 분류학회지 Vol.47 No.4

The three self-compatible, terrestrial orchids Cephalanthera erecta, C. falcata, and C. longibracteata flower synchronously in sympatric populations. Cephalanthera erecta and C. longibracteata, which have white flowers that do not fully open, are predominantly autogamous, whereas the food-deceptive C. falcata, whose bright yellow flowers open completely, is predominantly outcrossing. The formation of hybrids rarely occurs between species owing to strong prepollination barriers (floral isolation). If these three species have evolved toward the prevention of interspecific hybridization, we can expect that the spatial distribution patterns of the three species would be characterized as spatial segregation (i.e., ‘'spatial repulsion’') from each other. To test this prediction, we studied the three Cephalanthera species in sympatric populations showing coincident flowering within Yeonwhasan Provincial Park (YPP, Gyeongsangnam Province, South Korea). We found strong spatial aggregation in each population and spatial independence in the interspecific spatial distribution, differing from previous studies. We further hypothesize that Cephalanthera species in sympatry within YPP are distributed somewhat randomly in space, perhaps due to the sharing of similar mycorrhizal fungi.

Population genetic structure of Sedum polytrichoides (Crassulaceae): Insights into barriers to gene flow

정미윤,Jordi López-Pujol,정명기 한국식물분류학회 2016 식물 분류학회지 Vol.46 No.4

An area comprising Juwangsan National Park and its adjacent mountains (southeastern Korean Peninsula) is a good model system for testing the effects of physical barriers to gene flows in plant populations. We predicted that plant species consisting of isolated populations are genetically more differentiated than those that are rather continuously distributed. Most populations of Sedum polytrichoides occur in four isolated valleys, and we assessed the genetic variability and structures using twelve allozyme loci in ten populations. We also compared the present results to earlier findings pertaining to the two co-occurring herbs Hylotelephium ussuriense (≡ Sedum ussuriense) (growing only in the four isolated valleys) and S. kamtschaticum (rather continuously distributed). We found moderate levels of within-population genetic variation in S. polytrichoides (He = 0.112). Estimates of among-population divergence in S. polytrichoides were also moderate (FST = 0.250) and, as expected, very similar to that of H. ussuriense (0.261) but considerably higher than the variation in S. kamtschaticum (0.165). An analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that S. polytrichoides and H. ussuriense had higher percentages of among-valley variation (19% each) than S. kamtschaticum (4%). Most of this variation, as also indicated by the STRUCTURE program, was due to differences in genetic profiles between the two central valleys. We concluded that the genetic differences observed between species (S. kamtschaticum vs. S. polytrichoides and H. ussuriense) are mainly due to differences in their distribution within the study area.

Is the Baekdudaegan “"the Southern Appalachians of the East”"? A comparison between these mountain systems, focusing on their role as glacial refugia

정미윤,Jordi López-Pujol,정명기 한국식물분류학회 2016 식물 분류학회지 Vol.46 No.4

Based on genetic studies and palaeoecological surveys, the main Korean mountain range, the socalled "Baekdudaegan" (BDDG), has been recently suggested to be a major glacial refugium at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) for the boreal and temperate flora of northeastern Asia. On the basis of its shared role as a glacial refugium, and on a series of striking similarities in floristic richness and orographic features, the BDDG would constitute a sort of “"eastern counterpart”" of the Southern Appalachians. Given its floristic, biogeographic, and cultural value, the BDDG merits high priority for conservation.

Seed collection strategies for plant restoration with the aid from neutral genetic diversity

정미윤,손성원,Kangshan Mao,Jordi LÓPEZ-PUJOL,정명기 한국식물분류학회 2019 식물 분류학회지 Vol.49 No.4

One key step in the plant restoration process is the collection of seeds from the field. For the selection of source populations of target plant species for translocation purposes (reintroduction or reinforcements), several approaches are possible. A practical method involves the use of data from reciprocal transplant studies. If no direct data are available, knowledge of population genetics and the phylogeography of the target species can serve as an alternative. In this short review, we briefly propose guidelines for those collecting seeds for plant species restoration based on population genetics theory, focusing on two main questions: Where does the plant material come from and how are sources designated, and how are seeds efficiently collected from local populations? While genetic data on a larger scale (phylogeography and population genetics) are needed to form a reply to the first question, similar data on a smaller scale (fine-scale genetic structures within populations) are necessary to shed light on the second issue.

Evaluation of the taxonomic rank of the terrestrial orchid Cephalanthera subaphylla based on allozymes

Mi Yoon Chung,Sung-Won Son,정재민,Jordi LÓPEZ-PUJOL,Tomohisa Yukawa,정명기 한국식물분류학회 2019 식물 분류학회지 Vol.49 No.2

The taxonomic rank of the tiny-leaved terrestrial orchid Cephalanthera subaphylla Miyabe & Kudô has been somewhat controversial, as it has been treated as a species or as an infraspecific taxon, under C. erecta (Thunb.) Blume [C. erecta var. subaphylla (Miyabe & Kudô) Ohwi and C. erecta f. subaphylla (Miyabe & Kudô) M. Hiro]. Allozyme markers, traditionally employed for delimiting species boundaries, are used here to gain information for determining the taxonomic status of C. subaphylla. To do this, we sampled three populations of five taxa (a total of 15 populations) of Cephalanthera native to the Korean Peninsula [C. erecta, C. falcata (Thunb.) Blume, C. longibracteata Blume, C. longifolia (L.) Fritsch, and C. subaphylla]. Among 20 putative loci resolved, three were monomorphic (Dia-2, Pgi-1, and Tpi-1) across the five species. Apart from C. longibracteata, there was no allozyme variation within the remaining four species. Of the 51 alleles harbored by these 17 polymorphic loci, each of the 27 alleles at 14 loci was unique to a single species. Accordingly, we found low average values of Nei’s genetic identities (I) between ten species pairs (from I = 0.250 for C. erecta versus C. longifolia to I = 0.603 for C. falcata vs. C. longibracteata), with C. subaphylla being genetically clearly differentiated from the other species (from I = 0.349 for C. subaphylla vs. C. longifolia to 0.400 for C. subaphylla vs. C. falcata). These results clearly indicate that C. subaphylla is not genetically related to any of the other taxa of Cephalanthera that are native to the Korean Peninsula, including C. erecta. In a principal coordinate analysis (PCoA), C. subaphylla was positioned distant not only from C. falcata, C. longibracteata, and C. longifolia, but also from C. erecta. Finally, K = 5 was the best clustering scheme using a Bayesian approach, with five clusters precisely corresponding to the five taxa. Thus, our allozyme results strongly suggest that C. subaphylla merits the rank of species.

The genetically healthy terrestrial orchid Liparis krameri on southern Korean Peninsula

정미윤,정재민,손성원,Kangshan Mao,Jordi LÓPEZ-PUJOL,정명기 한국식물분류학회 2019 식물 분류학회지 Vol.49 No.4

Neutral genetic diversity found in plant species usually leaves an indelible footprint of historical events. Korea’s main mountain range (referred to as the Baekdudaegan [BDDG]), is known to have served as a glacial refugium primarily for the boreal and temperate flora of northeastern Asia. In addition, life-history traits (life forms, geographic range, and breeding systems) influence the within- and among-population genetic diversity of seed plant species. For example, selfing species harbor significantly less within-population genetic variation compared to predominantly outcrossers. A previous study of two Liparis species (L. makinoana and L. kumokiri) emphasizes the role of the abovementioned factors shaping the levels of genetic diversity. Liparis makinoana, mainly occurring on the BDDG and self-incompatible, harbors high levels of within-population genetic diversity (expected heterozygosity, HeP = 0.319), whereas there is no allozyme variation (HeP = 0.000) in L. kumokiri, which is self-compatible and mainly occurs in lowland hilly areas. To determine if this trend is also found in other congeners, we sampled five populations of L. krameri from the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and investigated the allozyme-based genetic diversity at 15 putative loci. The somewhat intermediate levels of within-population genetic variation (HeP = 0.145) found in L. krameri are most likely due to its occurrence in mountainous areas that, despite being outside of the main BDDG, still served as refugia, and a self-incompatible breeding system. Management strategies are suggested for L. krameri and L. makinoana based on the levels and distribution of genetic diversity and inbreeding.

Genetic diversity in the common terrestrial orchid Oreorchis patens and its rare congener Oreorchis coreana: inference of species evolutionary history and implications for conservation.

Chung, Mi Yoon,L?pez-Pujol, Jordi,Maki, Masayuki,Kim, Ki-Joong,Chung, Jae Min,Sun, Byung-Yun,Chung, Myong Gi published for the Association by Oxford University 2012 The Journal of heredity Vol.103 No.5

<P>We hypothesized that the main Korean mountain ranges provided many refugia for boreal plant species, where they likely found relatively stable habitats and maintained large population sizes. Under this scenario, high levels of genetic variation and low degree of differentiation among populations within these species were anticipated. To test this hypothesis, we examined levels of allozyme diversity (17 loci) in 12 populations of the common terrestrial montane orchid Oreorchis patens from the main ranges in Korea and 4 populations of its rare congener O. coreana, which is restricted to the Korean island of Jeju. As expected, O. patens harbored high levels of genetic variation within populations (%P = 62.8, A = 1.96, H (o) = 0.211, and H (e) = 0.237). Allele frequency differences among populations were low (F (ST) = 0.075), and the species also displayed a significant correlation between pairwise genetic differentiation and geographical distance. All these results suggest that extant populations were founded by multiple genetically diverse individuals and that most of this initial diversity would have been maintained in the stable mountainous conditions during Quaternary climatic oscillations. In contrast, we were unable to detect any genetic diversity in O. coreana, suggesting that contemporary populations likely originated from a single ancestral source population that had lost all genetic variability. From a long-term conservation genetics perspective, extreme rarity and small population sizes, coupled with its apparent genetic uniformity, place O. coreana at a high risk of extinction. Thus, both in situ and ex situ conservation efforts should be of particular importance for this species.</P>

Clonal and genetic structure of Iris odaesanensis and Iris rossii (Iridaceae): insights of the Baekdudaegan Mountains as a glacial refugium for boreal and temperate plants

Chung, Mi Y.,Ló,pez-Pujol, Jordi,Lee, You M.,Oh, Seung H.,Chung, Myong G. Springer-Verlag 2015 Plant systematics and evolution Vol.301 No.5