Paggi et al. 2015 (Conference Paper) Dyckia

Insights into the biodiversity of Dyckia from Brazilian Pantanal and chaco of Mato Grosso do Sul

Author(s):—Gecele Paggi, Aline P. Lorenz-Lemke, Fernanda Bered, Rafael Louzada, Leonardo Versieux, Camila Zanella, Adriana Takahasi, Rosani Arruda, Camila Melo, Brenda Brandão, Gilaine Miranda, Laís Costa, João Coffani-Nunes & Andrea Costa in Benko-Iseppon, A.M.; Alves, M. & Louzada, R. (2015) An overview and abstracts of the First World Congress on Bromeliaceae Evolution. Rodriguésia 66(2): A1-A66.

Publication:— (2015).

Abstract:—We present some insights of selected, collaborative recently published or unpublished research into the biological and genetic diversity of bromeliad species, most of which focus on Dyckia (Pitcairnioideae), occurringmainly in the diagonal of dry areas from the Brazilian Pantanal to Chaco, in Mato Grosso do Sul state (MS), Brazil. The checklist of MS showed 11 genera and 41 spp, with the subfamily Pitcairnioideae being the richestin species (5 genera / 18 spp.). Dyckia presented 13 species, four of them endemic to MS. The second richest genus was Tillandsia with 12 species, with only T. bonita Versieux & Martinelli endemic to MS. Because of the richness observed in these two genera, and some inconsistencies observed in the identification of some taxa, it was suggested that a taxonomic study of Dyckia and Tillandsia from MS should be done. The second work involved an improvement in the knowledge of the biodiversity of Dyckia species, as Dyckia excelsaLeme was rediscovered, a species known only from the description of one individual in a private collection. In this work, we described three natural populations of D. excelsa located in ironstone outcrops or ?cangas? from Corumbá city, MS. It was the first record of D. excelsa in nature; apparently, it is also endemic to MS, as it was first described as occurring in Mato Grosso State (MT), but with no precise local. Recently we started to study the population genetics of D. excelsa and D. leptostachya Baker, using cross-amplification of nuclear microsatellite loci. Also, we are studying the phylogeography of Dyckia species from MS. Preliminary results in population genetics of D. leptostachya wild populations, based on four nuclear microsatellite loci, have shown high genetic diversity in this self-compatible species (observed and expected heterozygosity varied from 0.192 to 0.941 and from 0.491 to 0.677, respectively). For D. excelsa we were able to amplify eight of the ten microsatellites loci tested, using touchdown amplification protocols; a complete population genetic analysis is ongoing for this species. For the initial phylogeographical studies we chose four species endemic to MS (Dyckia grandidentata, D. pottiorum, D. excelsa and Dyckia sp.), aiming to understand the evolutionary history of this group and contribute to a better understanding of the Brazilian Cerrado Biome (BCB) history. The samples were collected at seven localities, totaling 18 populations and 368 individuals, in which we tested three plastidial sequences (rpL32-trnL, rps16-trnK, trnD-trnT) from populations throughout the known distribution of all four species. The preliminary results showed some differences in molecular sequences among species. The analyses are in progress and will provide valuable insights into the historical processes underlying the diversification of those species in the dry diagonal region of Brazil, a poorly known region in terms of biodiversity and conservation.

Keywords:—Conservation; Endemism; Genetic Diversity.