Anthropogenic and natural drivers of gene flow in a temperate wild fruit tree: a basis for conservation and breeding programs in apples

Amandine Cornille (1) , Alice Feurtey (2) , Uriel Gelin (3) , Jeanne Ropars (4) , Kristine Misvanderbrugge , Pierre Gladieux (5) , Tatiana Giraud (6, 4, 2, 7)

1 Center for Adaptation to a Changing Environment [Zürich]
2 UP11 - Université Paris-Sud - Paris 11
3 UdeS - Université de Sherbrooke
4 CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
5 UMR BGPI - Biologie et Génétique des Interactions Plante-Parasite
6 ESE - Ecologie Systématique et Evolution
7 Université Paris Saclay (COmUE)

Gene flow is an essential component of population adaptation and species evolution. Understanding of the natural and anthropogenic factors affecting gene flow is also critical for the development of appropriate management, breeding, and conservation programs. Here, we explored the natural and anthropogenic factors impacting crop-to-wild and within wild gene flow in apples in Europe using an unprecedented dense sampling of 1889 wild apple (Malus sylvestris) from European forests and 339 apple cultivars (Malus domestica). We made use of genetic, environmental, and ecological data (microsatellite markers, apple production across landscapes and records of apple flower visitors, respectively). We provide the first evidence that both human activities, through apple production, and human disturbance, through modifications of apple flower visitor diversity, have had a significant impact on crop-to-wild interspecific introgression rates. Our analysis also revealed the impact of previous natural climate change on historical gene flow in the nonintrogressed wild apple M. sylvestris, by identifying five distinct genetic groups in Europe and a north–south gradient of genetic diversity. These findings identify human activities and climate as key drivers of gene flow in a wild temperate fruit tree and provide a practical basis for conservation, agroforestry, and breeding programs for apples in Europe.

Mots clés: crabapple; dispersal; glacial refugia; global changes; SPIPOLL

Mots clés: admixture; pollinators

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]; Biodiversité

Amandine Cornille, Alice Feurtey, Uriel Gelin, Jeanne Ropars, Kristine Misvanderbrugge, et al.. Anthropogenic and natural drivers of gene flow in a temperate wild fruit tree: a basis for conservation and breeding programs in apples: a basis for conservation and breeding programs in apples. Evolutionary Applications, 2015, 8 (4), pp.373-384. ⟨10.1111/eva.12250⟩. ⟨hal-02328871⟩