Morales-Marroquín Jonathan A, Alves-Pereira Alessandro, Díaz-Hernández Brenda Gabriela, Alves Vianna Suelen, de Araújo Batista Carlos Eduardo, Colombo Carlos A, Baldin Pinheiro José, Zucchi Maria Imaculada
Genetics and Molecular Biology Department, Biology Institute, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Department of Genetics, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
PLoS One. 2025 Jun 13;20(6):e0324340. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0324340. eCollection 2025.
Population genetic research has evolved, focusing on selection processes using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) genotyping techniques to study crop traits and domestication. This study explores the adaptation process of three neotropical palms of Acrocomia, a genus that has high potential for oil extraction. Our research focused on their genetic structure, evolutionary significance, and implications of the selection signatures for breeding efforts. We employed genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) focusing on outlier SNP markers to identify adaptive genes in A. aculeata, A. totai, and A. intumescens across their entire distributions. Our results reveal two major gene pools in A. aculeata: a Central American group and a South American group, mainly influenced by dispersal and biogeographic barriers. Putative selective signatures were identified in candidate genes associated with traits related to oil biosynthesis, pathogen resistance, and adaptation to environmental stress like drought tolerance. A. totai exhibited a pronounced genetic structure influenced by distinct biomes, suggesting recent diversification driven by climatic and geological factors, particularly within the Pantanal biome. A. intumescens displays genetic structuring shaped by the endemic process of biogeographic barriers within the Caatinga biome. Correlations between allele frequencies and climatic variables highlight adaptation to diverse environments, with the annual mean temperature and precipitations being one of the most influential. Candidate genes associated with fatty acid and carotenoid biosynthesis, as well as pathogen resistance and drought tolerance, indicate targets for future breeding studies. Despite the challenges associated with reduced representation sequencing, this study highlights the potential for gene discovery in Acrocomia, offering promising targets to enhance oil yield productivity. Future efforts should prioritize whole-genome sequencing and genotype-environment interaction studies to realize the full potential of Acrocomia spp. in sustainable oil production.
群体遗传学研究不断发展，聚焦于利用单核苷酸多态性（SNP）基因分型技术来研究作物性状和驯化的选择过程。本研究探索了Acrocomia属三种新热带棕榈的适应过程，该属在油脂提取方面具有很高潜力。我们的研究重点关注它们的遗传结构、进化意义以及选择特征对育种工作的影响。我们采用基于测序的基因分型（GBS），重点关注异常SNP标记，以在A. aculeata、A. totai和A. intumescens的整个分布范围内鉴定适应性基因。我们的结果揭示了A. aculeata中的两个主要基因库：一个中美洲群体和一个南美洲群体，主要受扩散和生物地理障碍的影响。在与油脂生物合成、病原体抗性以及干旱耐受性等环境胁迫适应相关性状的候选基因中鉴定出了假定的选择特征。A. totai表现出受不同生物群落影响的明显遗传结构，表明近期由气候和地质因素驱动的多样化，特别是在潘塔纳尔生物群落内。A. intumescens显示出由卡廷加生物群落内生物地理障碍的特有过程塑造的遗传结构。等位基因频率与气候变量之间的相关性突出了对不同环境适应，年平均温度和降水量是最具影响力的因素之一。与脂肪酸和类胡萝卜素生物合成以及病原体抗性和干旱耐受性相关的候选基因，为未来育种研究指明了方向。尽管与简化代表性测序相关存在挑战，但本研究突出了在Acrocomia中发现基因的潜力，为提高油脂产量生产力提供了有前景的目标。未来的工作应优先进行全基因组测序和基因型 - 环境相互作用研究，以充分发挥Acrocomia spp.在可持续油脂生产中的潜力。
