Pairwise matrix of F_<i>ST</i> values.

The wild species of the genus Zea commonly named teosintes, comprise nine different taxa, distributed from northern Mexico to Costa Rica. Although this genus of plants has been extensively studied from a morphological, ecogeographical and genetic point of view, most contributions have been limited to the study of a few populations and taxa. To understand the great variability that exists between and within teosinte species, it is necessary to include the vast majority of known populations. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the diversity and genomic structure of 276 teosinte populations. Molecular analyzes were performed with 3,604 plants and with data from 33,929 SNPs. The levels of genetic diversity by taxonomic group show a marked difference between species, races and sections, where the highest values of genomic diversity was found in ssp. parviglumis and ssp. mexicana. The lower values were obtained for the Luxuriantes section as well as ssp. huehuetenagensis of the section Zea. The results of structure show that there is a great genetic differentiation in all the taxonomic groups considered. For ssp. parviglumis and mexicana, which are the taxa with the largest number of populations, a marked genomic differentiation was found that is consistent with their geographic distribution patterns. These results showed a loss of diversity in several teosinte populations, making a strong case for further collection, and ex situ and in situ conservation. Also, this study highlights the importance of integrating genomic diversity and structure for the applications of conservation and management.</div

Plot of the PCo2 and PCo3 of principal coordinate analyses.

Plot of the PCo2 and PCo3 of principal coordinate analyses.</p

Threat category of teosinte taxa according to the IUCN and Mexican red lists.

Threat category of teosinte taxa according to the IUCN and Mexican red lists.</p

Pairwise matrix of geographic distance values.

The wild species of the genus Zea commonly named teosintes, comprise nine different taxa, distributed from northern Mexico to Costa Rica. Although this genus of plants has been extensively studied from a morphological, ecogeographical and genetic point of view, most contributions have been limited to the study of a few populations and taxa. To understand the great variability that exists between and within teosinte species, it is necessary to include the vast majority of known populations. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the diversity and genomic structure of 276 teosinte populations. Molecular analyzes were performed with 3,604 plants and with data from 33,929 SNPs. The levels of genetic diversity by taxonomic group show a marked difference between species, races and sections, where the highest values of genomic diversity was found in ssp. parviglumis and ssp. mexicana. The lower values were obtained for the Luxuriantes section as well as ssp. huehuetenagensis of the section Zea. The results of structure show that there is a great genetic differentiation in all the taxonomic groups considered. For ssp. parviglumis and mexicana, which are the taxa with the largest number of populations, a marked genomic differentiation was found that is consistent with their geographic distribution patterns. These results showed a loss of diversity in several teosinte populations, making a strong case for further collection, and ex situ and in situ conservation. Also, this study highlights the importance of integrating genomic diversity and structure for the applications of conservation and management.</div

Isolation by distance model for ssp. <i>parviglumis</i> (142 populations, R² = 0.32, obs = 0.59), ssp. <i>mexicana</i> (104 populations, R² = 0.48, obs = 0.69), <i>Z</i>. <i>luxurians</i> (9 populations, R² = 0.92, obs = 0.65) and <i>Z</i>. <i>diploperennis</i> (10 populations, R² = 0.99, obs = 0.99).

Isolation by distance model for ssp. parviglumis (142 populations, R2 = 0.32, obs = 0.59), ssp. mexicana (104 populations, R2 = 0.48, obs = 0.69), Z. luxurians (9 populations, R2 = 0.92, obs = 0.65) and Z. diploperennis (10 populations, R2 = 0.99, obs = 0.99).</p

Observed heterozygosity (<i>Ho</i>) and expected heterozygosity (<i>He</i>) values of 276 teosinte populations based in 33,929 SNPs.

The panels indicate the population frequency divided in very low (a and e), low (b and f), medium (c and g) and high (d and h) values respectively for each index. For Ho: Very low = 0.2104. For He: Very low = 0.4038.</p

Geographic distribution of the 276 populations of seven teosinte taxa used for this study.

Topographic background of Digital Elevation Model from Worldclim [37]. Resolution 1km.</p

Genetic diversity indexes of 13 teosinte taxa.

Ho: Observed heterozygosity; He: Expected heterozygosity; π: nucleotide diversity, PS: Polymorphic sites; θw: Theta of Watterson; Hs: Heterozygosity sites. Colors match Fig 2.</p

Plot of the two principal coordinate analyses showing the spatial differentiation among 276 populations of teosinte based on 33,929 SNPs.

Plot of the two principal coordinate analyses showing the spatial differentiation among 276 populations of teosinte based on 33,929 SNPs.</p

Plot of value of BIC.

The wild species of the genus Zea commonly named teosintes, comprise nine different taxa, distributed from northern Mexico to Costa Rica. Although this genus of plants has been extensively studied from a morphological, ecogeographical and genetic point of view, most contributions have been limited to the study of a few populations and taxa. To understand the great variability that exists between and within teosinte species, it is necessary to include the vast majority of known populations. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the diversity and genomic structure of 276 teosinte populations. Molecular analyzes were performed with 3,604 plants and with data from 33,929 SNPs. The levels of genetic diversity by taxonomic group show a marked difference between species, races and sections, where the highest values of genomic diversity was found in ssp. parviglumis and ssp. mexicana. The lower values were obtained for the Luxuriantes section as well as ssp. huehuetenagensis of the section Zea. The results of structure show that there is a great genetic differentiation in all the taxonomic groups considered. For ssp. parviglumis and mexicana, which are the taxa with the largest number of populations, a marked genomic differentiation was found that is consistent with their geographic distribution patterns. These results showed a loss of diversity in several teosinte populations, making a strong case for further collection, and ex situ and in situ conservation. Also, this study highlights the importance of integrating genomic diversity and structure for the applications of conservation and management.</div