Abstract Detail

Recent Topics Posters

Beers, Lee [1], Rowland, Jeannie [2], Drummond, Frank [3].

Genetic diversity of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) in managed and non-managed populations throughout its native range.

Lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) is native to eastern North America and can be found over a large geographic area that spans from Quebec south to North Carolina and from Nova Scotia west to Manitoba. Lowbush blueberries are valued for their fruit, herbal properties, and utility as a landscape plant. The fruit is harvested commercially in many regions but is primarily located in Maine, Quebec, and the Canadian Maritimes. Cultivation of lowbush blueberry is unique among fruit crops since wild plants with unknown genetic composition and fruit traits populate a field. The resulting field is a mosaic of individual plants, called clones that are genetically unique relative to the neighboring clones. Genetic diversity of this crop has never been evaluated over a large geographic area. The goal of this research is to identify the genetic diversity found within and among lowbush blueberry populations throughout its native range. EST-PCR molecular markers developed for use in highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) were used to screen 242 lowbush blueberry clones from wild, non-managed populations in Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts and Maine.  Four paired managed/non-managed populations were also evaluated in Maine to identify any changes in genetic diversity due to domestication.  Genetic relatedness between populations was assessed by analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and principal coordinates analysis (PCA).  Spatial autocorrelation was used to identify any spatial structure. Paired populations were compared using multiple blocked paired permutations (MBPP) and multivariate analysis of variance (perMANOVA).  Finally, population structure was assessed using Bayesian clustering methods. In all sampled populations the majority of the variance can be assigned to within the populations.  Each population is highly diverse with each individual being unique with very little genetic similarity with other individuals in that population.  As populations become spatially separated, spatial structure appears around 12km but is not evident after 100km.  Among the sampled paired populations, the managed populations had fewer loci represented than their non-managed counterparts.  No population structure was found among the sampled populations. 

Related Links:
Wild Blueberry Research at UMaine

1 - University of Maine, School of Biology and Ecology, 5722 Deering Hall, Orono, ME, 04469, USA
2 - United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Reseach Service, Genetic Improvement of Fruits and Vegetables Lab, BARC-West, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA
3 - University Of Maine, School Of Biology And Ecology, 305 Deering Hall, Orono, ME, 04469, USA

Keywords:
Vaccinium
Blueberry
EST-PCR
genetic diversity
Domestication.

Presentation Type: Recent Topics Poster
Session: P
Location: Hall D/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2015
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PRT022
Abstract ID:1806
Candidate for Awards:None