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Research Article

Genetic relationships among accessions of four species of Desmodium and allied genera (Dendrolobium triangulare, Desmodium gangeticum, Desmodium heterocarpon, and Tadehagi triquetrum) [ pages 52-69 ]

Bettina Heider
    1*, Elke Fischer1, Tanja Berndl1, and Rainer Schultze-Kraft1,2
      1 Institute for Plant Production and Agroecology in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 13, D-70599 Stuttgart, Germany
      2 Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), A.A. 6713, Cali, Colombia

    Abstract
    Random amplified polymorphic DNA markers (RAPD) were used to assess the genetic relatedness among accessions of four species of Desmodium and allied genera (Dendrolobium triangulare, Desmodium gangeticum, Desmodium heterocarpon ssp. heterocarpon, and Tadehagi triquetrum) originating from Northeast Vietnam. Since information on the genetic diversity of these species is deficient, the creation of baseline data is an important means for the development of more sustainable and cost-efficient conservation approaches which eventually result in more comprehensive ex situ germplasm collections. The species analyzed are native to tropical and subtropical Asia, Australia, and Oceania and possess a potential as forage and/or medicinal plants. Moderate levels of inter-accession diversity represented by 37.5% and 33.3% of polymorphic fragments (P%) and average Jaccard’s similarity coefficients (JSCs) of 0.60 and 0.64 were found in D. heterocarpon and T. triquetrum, respectively, while moderate to high levels were detected in D. triangulare (P% = 52.9 and JSC = 0.61) and D. gangeticum (P% = 34.5 and JSC = 0.49). Mantel tests failed to reveal a correlation between geographic and genetic distances. Based on the results of this study, baseline data for further marker-assisted research are generated and future collecting and ex situ conservation strategies for the species studied are discussed.


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    General interest summaries (when available)
      English: Tropical legume diversity – future opportunities might be at risk. In the March 2009 volume of Tropical Conservation Science Bettina Heider, Elke Fischer, Tanja Berndl, and Rainer Schultze-Kraft, report that for thousands of years farmers took advantage of plant species and their ability to adapt to varying environmental conditions. Without this diversity agriculture development would not have been possible. Even to this day, natural plant diversity is fundamental for food security and poverty alleviation, especially in the lesser developed regions of our planet. Yet, through human interference and despite its vital importance, plant diversity is at risk. The worldwide growing concern about diminishing plant genetic diversity resulted in increasing numbers of conservation efforts and in intensified searches for plants with special traits adapted to the marginal farming systems of tropical smallholders. In light of this, Heider and collaborators state that “since conservation in gene banks is a cost-intensive endeavor, studies are required to describe the given diversity and ensure that the maximum of the genetic diversity of certain areas or plant species is stored in gene bank collections.” The authors used a molecular marker technology, random amplified polymorphic DNA marker (RAPD), to investigate the genetic relatedness among seed samples of four Desmodium and allied genera collected in Bac Kan province, Northeast Vietnam. They indicate that these legume plant species naturally occur in tropical and subtropical Asia, Australia, and Oceania, and possess a potential as forage or medicinal plants. Southeast Asia is widely recognized as one of the most important centers of diversity for legume species. Their study provides baseline data for future seed collecting and gene bank conservation strategies.

      Portuguese: Diversidade de leguminosas Tropicais – oportunidades futuras podem estar em risco. No volume de Março 2009 da Tropical Conservation Science Bettina Heider, Elke Fischer, Tanja Berndl, e Rainer Schultze-Kraft, relatam que por milhares de anos fazendeiros tiraram vantagens de espécies de plantas e suas habilidades de adaptação à variação das condições ambientais. Sem essa diversidade o desenvolvimento da agricultura não teria sido possível. Mesmo nos dias de hoje, a diversidade natural de plantas é fundamental para a segurança do alimento e alívio da pobreza, especialmente nas regiões menos desenvolvidas do nosso planeta. Contudo, com a interferência humana e apesar de sua vital importância, a diversidade das plantas está em risco. O crescente interesse mundial sobre a diminuição da diversidade genética vegetal resultou no aumento de número de esforços conservacionistas e em procuras intensificadas por plantas com traços especiais adaptadas ao sistema de cultivo marginal de pequenos proprietários tropicais. À luz disto, Heider e colaboradores explicam que “desde que a conservação em bancos genéticos é um esforço de custo elevado, são necessários estudos para descrever a dada diversidade e assegurar que o máximo da diversidade genética de certas áreas ou espécies de plantas estejam estocadas em coleções de bancos genéticos”. Os autores usaram uma tecnologia de marcador molecular, marcador de DNA polimórfico aleatoriamente amplificado (RAPD), para investigar a relação genética entre amostras de sementes de quatro Desmodium e gêneros aliados coletados na província de Bac Kan, Nordeste do Vietnan. Eles indicaram que essa espécie de planta leguminosa ocorre naturalmente na Ásia tropical e subtropical, Austrália, e Oceania, e possui um potencial como forragem ou planta medicinal. O sudeste da Ásia é largamente reconhecido como um dos mais importantes centros de diversidade para espécies de leguminosas. Seus estudos proporcionam a base de dados para futuras coletas de sementes e estratégias de conservação de banco genético. [translated by Marina Lapenta]

      Spanish: Diversidad de leguminosas tropicales – oportunidades futuras bajo riesgo. En el primer numero de Tropical Conservation Science publicado en Marzo de este año, Bettina Heider, Elke Fischer, Tanja Berndl, and Rainer Schultze-Kraft reportan que la diversidad natural de las poblaciones de plantas es fundamental para asegurar la alimentación y aliviar la pobreza de poblaciones humanas, especialmente en países subdesarrollados. Sin embargo, dicha diversidad esta bajo riesgo debido a la actividad humana por lo que es indispensable, los autores argumentan, documentar la diversidad genética de las poblaciones de plantas útiles con la meta de resguardar dichos bancos genéticos. Bettina Heider y colaboradores reportan el uso de marcadores géticos moleculares (RAPD) para documentar las relaciones genéticas entre muestras de semillas de cuatro géneros de Desmodium y de géneros aliados – herbáceas leguminosas – en la provincia de Bac Kan en el noreste de Vietnam. Los autores indican que “estas especies de plantas ocurren de modo natural en al Asia tropical y subtropical, Australia y Oceanía, y que poseen un potencial importante como forraje o plantas medicinales.” El estudio, señalan Bettina Heider y colaboradores, “aporta información base para subsecuentes desarrollos dirigidos a la colecta de semillas y conservación del banco genético de este tipo de plantas.”

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   Tropical Conservation Science is an open-access e-journal that publishes research relating to conservation of tropical forests and other tropical ecosystems.

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