Comparative genetic and epigenetic of the Wedelia trilobata (L.) from different regions

Abstract

Abstract Background Wedelia trilobata (L.) Hitchc., is a common and widespread invasive plant in South China. In order to further explore the molecular mechanisms of its rapid adaptation, we selected DNA methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) and simple sequence repeats (SSR) to analyze 60 W. trilobata individuals from Fuzhou (FZ), Haikou (HK), Jinghong (JH) and Guangzhou (GZ). Results In this study,The Shannon diversity index (I) of SSR and MSAP Nei are 0.236, 0.184; the average methylation rate of W. trilobata from the four regions is 18.25% − 32.92%, indicating that W. trilobata is highly methylated. In the unweighted pair group method with an arithmetic mean (UPGMA) phylogenetic tree, all populations in the MSAP are clustered together. The geographical distance between HK and JH is the closest, and GZ is the farthest from the other three populations. Epigenetic distance is more susceptible to geographical distance, as the correlation between epigenetic distance and geographical distance is significantly higher than that between genetic distance and geographical distance by Mantel analysis. Conclusions The result reveal that W. trilobata populations in different regions have high genetic and epigenetic diversity, as well as high methylation levels, in which epigenetic mechanisms play a stronger role.