Phylogeographic and demographic modeling analyses of the multiple origins of the rheophytic goldenrod Solidago yokusaiana Makino.

Understanding adaptation mechanisms is important in evolutionary biology. Parallel adaptation provides good opportunities to investigate adaptive evolution. To confirm parallel adaptation, it is effective to examine whether the phenotypic similarity has one or multiple origins and to use demographic modeling to consider the gene flow between ecotypes.

The diversity and evolution of pollination systems in large plant clades: Apocynaceae as a case study.

Background And Aims: Large clades of angiosperms are often characterized by diverse interactions with pollinators, but how these pollination systems are structured phylogenetically and biogeographically is still uncertain for most families. Apocynaceae is a clade of >5300 species with a worldwide distribution. A database representing >10 % of species in the family was used to explore the diversity of pollinators and evolutionary shifts in pollination systems across major clades and regions.

Origin of sex chromosomes in six groups of Rana rugosa frogs inferred from a sex-linked DNA marker.

Each vertebrate species, as a general rule, has either the XX/XY or ZZ/ZW chromosomes by which sex is determined. However, the Japanese Rana (R.) rugosa frog is an exception, possessing both sex-determining combinations within one species, varying with region of origin.

Genetic Diversity and Divergence in Populations of the Threatened Grassland Perennial Vincetoxicum atratum (Apocynaceae-Asclepiadoideae) in Japan.

We examined the genetic diversity and structure in populations of the endangered grassland herb Vincetoxicum atratum using 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci. Although the populations were small and disconnected, our molecular data indicated that the species maintains relatively high levels of genetic diversity and connectivity among populations. Population clustering analyses detected 2 to 3 clusters and most of the populations of V.

Long-term persisting hybrid swarm and geographic difference in hybridization pattern: genetic consequences of secondary contact between two Vincetoxicum species (Apocynaceae-Asclepiadoideae).

Background: During glacial periods, glacial advances caused temperate plant extirpation or retreat into localized warmer areas, and subsequent postglacial glacial retreats resulted in range expansions, which facilitated secondary contact of previously allopatric isolated lineages. The evolutionary outcomes of secondary contact, including hybrid zones, dynamic hybrid swarm, and resultant hybrid speciation, depends on the strengths of reproductive barriers that have arisen through epistatic and pleiotropic effects during allopatric isolation. The aim of this study was to demonstrate refugia isolation and subsequent secondary contact between two perennial Asclepioid species and to assess the genetic consequences of the secondary contact.

Development of microsatellite markers for Isodon longitubus (Lamiaceae).

Premise Of The Study: Microsatellite markers were developed for Isodon longitubus to study the natural hybridization of the species and its congeners. •

Methods And Results: A total of 10 primer sets were developed for I. longitubus.

Was Jeju Island a glacial refugium for East Asian warm-temperate plants? Insights from the homosporous fern Selliguea hastata (Polypodiaceae).

Premise Of The Study: We posed two hypotheses for broad scenarios of postglacial recolonization of Korea by the warm-temperate vegetation: (1) that extant Korean populations are derived from a single refugium, or (2) that they are derived from multiple refugia. We chose a homosporous fern typical of East Asian warm-temperate vegetation, Selliguea hastata, to test which of the two scenarios is more likely and to check whether Japan contained putative glacial refugia.

Methods: Using 16 allozyme loci, we obtained genotypes of 756 individuals from 20 populations, representative of the whole distribution area in Korea (including Jeju Island), Japan, and Taiwan.

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers for Canavalia cathartica and C. lineata (Fabaceae).

Premise Of The Study: Microsatellite markers were developed for the sea-dispersed legume Canavalia cathartica to investigate its genetic diversity and population structure. We also applied these microsatellite markers to the closely related species C. lineata.

Intraspecific morphological and genetic differentiation in Scrophularia grayana (Scrophulariaceae).

Scrophularia grayana, which is distributed throughout northern Japan and Sakhalin, and its locally endemic variety var. grayanoides, have been examined morphometrically and genetically. Principal-component analysis using a total of 26 morphological characteristics revealed that these taxa are morphologically differentiated, but that the difference is not distinct.

Molecular phylogeny of Vincetoxicum (Apocynaceae-Asclepiadoideae) based on the nucleotide sequences of cpDNA and nrDNA.

Molecular phylogenetic analyses of Vincetoxicum and Tylophora (Apocynaceae-Asclepiadoideae) were conducted based on the nucleotide sequences of cpDNA (two intergenic spacers of trnL (UAA)-trnF (GAA) and psbA-trnH and three introns, i.e., atpF, trnG (UCC) and trnL (UAA)), and nrDNA (ITS and ETS regions).