Landscape Genetics of Phaedranassa Herb. (Amaryllidaceae) in Ecuador

Speciation can be understood as a continuum occurring at different levels, from population to species. The recent molecular revolution in population genetics has opened a pathway towards understanding species evolution. At the same time, speciation patterns can be better explained by incorporating a geographic context, through the use of geographic information systems (GIS). Phaedranassa (Amaryllidaceae) is a genus restricted to one of the world’s most biodiverse hotspots, the Northern Andes. I studied seven Phaedranassa species from Ecuador. Six of these species are endemic to the country. The topographic complexity of the Andes, which creates local microhabitats ranging from moist slopes to dry valleys, might explain the patterns of Phaedranassa species differentiation. With a Bayesian individual assignment approach, I assessed the genetic structure of the genus throughout Ecuador using twelve microsatellite loci. I also used bioclimatic variables and species geographic coordinates under a Maximum Entropy algorithm to generate distribution models of the species. My results show that Phaedranassa species are genetically well-differentiated. Furthermore, with the exception of two species, all Phaedranassa showed non-overlapping distributions. Phaedranassa viridiflora and P. glauciflora were the only species in which the model predicted a broad species distribution, but genetic evidence indicates that these findings are likely an artifact of species delimitation issues. Both genetic differentiation and non-overlapping geographic distribution suggest that allopatric divergence could be the general model of genetic differentiation. Evidence of sympatric speciation was found in two geographically and genetically distinct groups of P. viridiflora. Additionally, I report the first register of natural hybridization for the genus. The findings of this research show that the genetic differentiation of species in an intricate landscape as the Andes does not necessarily show a unique trend. Although allopatric speciation is the most common form of speciation, I found evidence of sympatric speciation and hybridization. These results show that the processes of speciation in the Andes have followed several pathways. The mixture of these processes contributes to the high biodiversity of the regio

Alkaloid Profiling and Cholinesterase Inhibitory Potential of Crinum × amabile Donn. (Amaryllidaceae) Collected in Ecuador

Natural products are one of the main sources for developing new drugs. The alkaloids obtained from the plant family Amaryllidaceae have interesting structures and biological activities, such as acetylcholinesterase inhibition potential, which is one of the mechanisms used for the palliative treatment of Alzheimer's disease symptoms. Herein we report the alkaloidal profile of bulbs and leaves extracts of Crinum × amabile collected in Ecuador and their in vitro inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) enzymes. Using Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), we identified 12 Amaryllidaceae alkaloids out of 19 compounds detected in this species. The extracts from bulbs and leaves showed great inhibitory activity against AChE and BuChE, highlighting the potential of Amaryllidaceae family in the search of bioactive molecules. Keywords: Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, Crinum × amabile, AChE, BuChE, GC-M

Chemical profiling and cholinesterase inhibitory activity of five Phaedranassa Herb. (Amaryllidaceae) species from Ecuador

It is estimated that 50 million people in the world live with dementia, 60-70% of whom suffer from Alzheimer's disease (AD). Different factors are involved in the development of AD, including a reduction in the cholinergic neurotransmission level. The Amaryllidaceae plant family contains an exclusive, large, and still understudied alkaloid group characterized by a singular skeleton arrangement and a broad spectrum of biological activities. The chemistry and biodiversity of Ecuadorian representatives of the Phaedranassa genus (Amaryllidaceae) have not been widely studied. In this work, five Ecuadorian Phaedranassa species were examined in vitro for their activity towards the enzymes acetyl- (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), and the alkaloid profile of bulb extracts was analyzed by GC-MS. The species Phaedranassa cuencana and Phaedranassa dubia showed the most AChE and BuChE inhibitory activity, respectively. To obtain insight into the potential role of the identified alkaloids in these inhibitory effects, docking experiments were carried out, and cantabricine showed in silico inhibitory activity against both cholinesterase structures. Our results show that Amaryllidaceae species from Ecuador are a potential source of new drugs for the palliative treatment of AD

Genetic Diversity and Chemical Profile of Rhodophiala bifida Populations from Brazil

Rhodophiala bifida (Herb.) Traub, Amaryllidaceae, is a species native to South America known to produce alkaloids with potential pharmacological uses such as montanine, which has anti-inflammatory potential. R. bifida could be applied as a natural source of montanine. It is important to understand the genetic diversity of this species in order to assess the sustainable use of this plant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity and chemical profiles of the two known natural populations of R. bifida in Brazil. This report is the first population genetic study of R. bifida. We studied 93 individuals with six Inter-Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) primers. A total of 79 loci were amplified. Our results showed high-population structure (Fst = 0.16), with greatest genetic variation at the intrapopulation level. Genetic analyses separated the individuals of R. bifida into two clusters that corresponded to each of the natural populations. Chemical profile evaluation was carried out on dried bulbs, leaves, flowers, and flower scapes by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Montanine and nangustine were the main metabolites identified in both populations. These alkaloids concentrations differed by population and by plant part

Phylogenetic Analysis of Seven WRKY Genes across the Palm Subtribe Attaleinae (Arecaceae) Identifies Syagrus as Sister Group of the Coconut

BACKGROUND:The Cocoseae is one of 13 tribes of Arecaceae subfam. Arecoideae, and contains a number of palms with significant economic importance, including the monotypic and pantropical Cocos nucifera L., the coconut, the origins of which have been one of the "abominable mysteries" of palm systematics for decades. Previous studies with predominantly plastid genes weakly supported American ancestry for the coconut but ambiguous sister relationships. In this paper, we use multiple single copy nuclear loci to address the phylogeny of the Cocoseae subtribe Attaleinae, and resolve the closest extant relative of the coconut. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:We present the results of combined analysis of DNA sequences of seven WRKY transcription factor loci across 72 samples of Arecaceae tribe Cocoseae subtribe Attaleinae, representing all genera classified within the subtribe, and three outgroup taxa with maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian approaches, producing highly congruent and well-resolved trees that robustly identify the genus Syagrus as sister to Cocos and resolve novel and well-supported relationships among the other genera of the Attaleinae. We also address incongruence among the gene trees with gene tree reconciliation analysis, and assign estimated ages to the nodes of our tree. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:This study represents the as yet most extensive phylogenetic analyses of Cocoseae subtribe Attaleinae. We present a well-resolved and supported phylogeny of the subtribe that robustly indicates a sister relationship between Cocos and Syagrus. This is not only of biogeographic interest, but will also open fruitful avenues of inquiry regarding evolution of functional genes useful for crop improvement. Establishment of two major clades of American Attaleinae occurred in the Oligocene (ca. 37 MYBP) in Eastern Brazil. The divergence of Cocos from Syagrus is estimated at 35 MYBP. The biogeographic and morphological congruence that we see for clades resolved in the Attaleinae suggests that WRKY loci are informative markers for investigating the phylogenetic relationships of the palm family

Taxonomy based on science is necessary for global conservation

Peer reviewe

Actualización del Estado de Conservación de la Ashpa cebolla (Phaedranassa schizantha), una Especie Endémica de la Sierra Central del Ecuador

Phaedranassa schizantha(Amaryllidaceae), known as “ashpa cebolla” or “fake onion”, is a bulbous plantspecies endemic to the central Andes of Ecuador. With a restricted geographic distribution and few po-pulations,P. schizanthais classified as Endangered under the International Union for the Conservation ofNature red list of threatened species criteria. The variety ignea, limited to the area close to A mbato city, iscategorized as Critically Endangered following the same standards. The objective of this research is toupdate the conservation status of P. schizantha. After analyzing the population genetic structure of twelvelocalities using microsatellite loci, I did not find genetic evidence to separate genetically the species intotwo varieties. Therefore, I suggest that the varieties schizantha a nd ignea are synonyms and their degreeof threatened need to be assessed as one taxon. Based on the extension of presence of the species, Irecommend maintaining the category “Endangered” for P. schizantha, under the International Union forthe Conservation of Nature red list criteriaPhaedranassa schizantha (Amaryllidaceae), conocida como “ashpa cebolla” o “falsa cebolla”, es una especie de planta bulbosa endémica de la sierra central del Ecuador. Debido a su distribución geográfica restringida y al reducido número de poblaciones, P. schizantha se encuentra categorizada como En Peligro de Extinción según los criterios de la lista roja para especies en peligro de la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza.La variedad ignea, localizada alrededor de Ambato, está clasificada como En Peligro Crítico, según los mismos estándares. El objetivo de esta investigación es actualizar el estado de conservación de P. schizantha. Tras analizar la estructura genética en doce localidades, utilizando microsatelites, no se encontraron diferencias genéticas que justifiquen la separación de la especie en dos variedades. Se sugiere que las variedades schizantha e ignea sean consideras sinónimos y se clasifique el grado de amenaza de la especie como un solo taxón. Basada en la extensión de presencia de la especie, recomiendo mantener la categoría de “En Peligro” para P. schizantha, según los criterios de la lista roja de la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza

Métodos para el Estudio de Flujo Genético en Plantas

El flujo genético es un proceso que ocurre naturalmente vía dispersión de semillas, movimiento de polen o individuos y su incorporación al acervo génico en una nueva localidad. El flujo genético depende de factores como la forma de dispersión, tiempo de viabilidad, distancia de dispersión, entre otros. El intercambio genético entre individuos es estudiado mediante la genética de poblaciones. El presente trabajo es un ensayo en el que se discuten los factores que influyen el flujo genético en plantas. Se detallan varias técnicas moleculares para estimar flujo genético entre poblaciones, con ejemplos de investigaciones realizadas en el Ecuador. Finalmente, se explican algunas aplicaciones para el control biológico mediante el uso de herramientas moleculares para identificar flujo genético de organismos transgénicos.Gene flow is a naturally occurring process via seed dispersal, pollen movement or individuals, and their incorporation into the gene pool at a new location. Gene flow depends on factors like dispersion feasibility, dispersal distance, among others. Genetic exchange between individuals is studied with population genetics. The following review explains some of the factors that inuence gene ow in plants. Several molecular techniques are described for estimating gene ow between populations, with examples from research conducted in Ecuador. Finally, some applications for biological control using molecular tools to identify gene ow from transgenic organisms, are explaine

Landscape genetics of Phaedranassa herb. (Amaryllidaceae) in Ecuador

Speciation can be understood as a continuum occurring at different levels, from population to species. The recent molecular revolution in population genetics has opened a pathway towards understanding species evolution. At the same time, speciation patterns can be better explained by incorporating a geographic context, through the use of geographic information systems (GIS). Phaedranassa (Amaryllidaceae) is a genus restricted to one of the world’s most biodiverse hotspots, the Northern Andes. I studied seven Phaedranassa species from Ecuador. Six of these species are endemic to the country. The topographic complexity of the Andes, which creates local microhabitats ranging from moist slopes to dry valleys, might explain the patterns of Phaedranassa species differentiation. With a Bayesian individual assignment approach, I assessed the genetic structure of the genus throughout Ecuador using twelve microsatellite loci. I also used bioclimatic variables and species geographic coordinates under a Maximum Entropy algorithm to generate distribution models of the species. My results show that Phaedranassa species are genetically well-differentiated. Furthermore, with the exception of two species, all Phaedranassa showed non-overlapping distributions. Phaedranassa viridiflora and P. glauciflora were the only species in which the model predicted a broad species distribution, but genetic evidence indicates that these findings are likely an artifact of species delimitation issues. Both genetic differentiation and nonoverlapping geographic distribution suggest that allopatric divergence could be the general model of genetic differentiation. Evidence of sympatric speciation was found in two geographically and genetically distinct groups of P. viridiflora. Additionally, I report the first register of natural hybridization for the genus. The findings of this research show that the genetic differentiation of species in an intricate landscape as the Andes does not necessarily show a unique trend. Although allopatric speciation is the most common form of speciation, I found evidence of sympatric speciation and hybridization. These results show that the processes of speciation in the Andes have followed several pathways. The mixture of these processes contributes to the high biodiversity of the region