Microsatellite markers revealed moderate genetic diversity and population differentiation of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis)—a primarily asexual reproduction species in China

As an ecologically and economically important endemic bamboo species, moso (Phyllostachys edulis) has been widely distributed in Southern China. In the paper, 20 fluorescently labeled microsatellite markers were used to evaluate the genetic structure of Ph. edulis including 34 representative populations (803 individuals) covering the geographic range in China. Moderate genetic diversity (H = 0.376) and differentiation (Gst = 0.162) were detected at the species level, with the majority of genetic diversity occurring within populations (84.55%). Bayesian model-based structure analysis and sNMF/ANLS-AS method revealed the presence of two and three clusters. When K = 2, majority of populations (except SX) were clustered together (C1). It implied that SX, known as an introduced and isolated founder population, significantly differed from other populations for distinct environmental selection and allele mutation with the proof of scarce outcrossing and relatively high frequency of private allele. While K = 3, two subgroups (C1a of 18 populations and C1b of 14 populations) were detected within C1. The C1b displayed as a belt-shape region with an east-west direction. It coincided with the extremely high artificial selection in C1b (lower genetic diversity than that of C1a) due to the intensive plantation in the last four decades. Our results implied that the population protection and germplasm collection of moso bamboo should be not only from representative populations in Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, and other places with intensive cultivation in the east of China, but from populations with high level of gene and genotypic diversity in the west (e.g., HN5, GD1, GZ2, YN1, and SX).