Genomic resources for Myracrodruon urundeuva and applications for ex situ conservation and genetic structure in occurrence biomes

• Grant number: 22/03320-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2023
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Forestry Resources and Forestry Engineering - Nature Conservation
• Principal Investigator: Celso Luis Marino
• Grantee: Celso Luis Marino
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biotecnologia (IBTEC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Ananda Virginia de Aguiar ; Bruno César Rossini ; Karina Martins ; Marcela Aparecida de Moraes ; Mario Luiz Teixeira de Moraes ; Romain Guyot ; Salvatore Moricca

Abstract

Myracrodruon urundeuva (Anacardiaceae) is on the official list of endangered species of the Brazilian flora. Also in 1987, this species, which has a wood of great resistance and medicinal purposes, was selected for the formation of an active germplasm bank (BAG) at the Unesp Experimental Farm located in Selvíria, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. Currently, the BAG comprises 20 progeny tests (PTs) from 13 sources in the biomes of species occurrence. In the last 34 years, this BAG has enabled knowledge and clarification of numerous scientific issues related to genetics, forestry, and the commercial use of M. urundeuva. These works also raised new questions that can be adequately answered with the development of genomic resources, such as the availability of the genome and transcriptome of the species and the development of genotyping panels of SNPs markers, to identify potential markers or gene associated to commercial characteristics. Therefore, we will apply next-generation sequencing in a combination strategy of long and short reads, as well as mRNA sequencing from different stages of plant development for gene annotation. These resources will constitute important tools in evolutionary, improvement and conservation studies also in related species. With these new resources, and using genetic material collected at the BAG and sampling new populations, we will characterize the distribution of genomic variation associated with the four biomes of occurrence of the species, with estimation of genetic diversity parameters and population structure among the sampled biomes, and identify candidate genes and/or markers associated with tree development and wood characteristics. Thus, the development and application of genomic tools proves to be an effective strategy to foster breeding and genetic conservation of M. urundeuva. (AU)