Evaluating Range Genetics in Black Cherry (Prunus Serotina) and the Genetic Status of an Enigmatic Relative, Alabama Cherry (Prunus Alabamensis)
Evaluating Range Genetics in Black Cherry (Prunus Serotina) and the Genetic Status of an Enigmatic Relative, Alabama Cherry (Prunus Alabamensis)

Author: Lauren A. Konrade

Publisher:

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 54

ISBN-13:

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Premise of the study: Isolation by distance (IBD) is a genetic pattern in which populations geographically closer to one another are more genetically similar to each other than populations which are further apart. Black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) (Rosaceae) is a forest tree species widespread in eastern North America, and found sporadically in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Guatemala. This tree is both commercially important as timber for furniture and ecologically important as a source of nutrition for local wildlife. IBD has been studied in relatively few North American plant taxa, and no study has rigorously sampled across the range of such a widespread species. In this research we evaluated IBD and overall genetic structure in eastern black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh. subsp. serotina), the widespread black cherry subspecies of eastern North America. Methods: Dense sampling across the eastern black cherry range was made possible by genotyping 15 microsatellite loci in 439 herbarium samples from all portions of the range. Mantel tests and STRUCTURE analyses were performed to evaluate the hypothesis of IBD and overall genetic structure. Key results: Mantel tests demonstrated no isolation by distance at any distance class, and STRUCTURE analyses revealed no clear geographic pattern of genetic groups. 2 Conclusions: The lack of detectable large-scale genetic structure across the range of eastern black cherry suggests widespread gene flow in this taxon. This is consistent with P. serotina's status as a disturbance-associated species, and for comparison further studies should include species characteristic of low-disturbance forests.

North American Cornucopia
North American Cornucopia

Author: Ernest Small

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2013-09-23

Total Pages: 796

ISBN-13: 1466585927

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Many North American plants have characteristics that are especially promising for creating varieties needed to expand food production, and there are excellent prospects of generating new economically competitive crops from these natives. The inadequacy of current crops to meet the food demands of the world’s huge, growing population makes the potential of indigenous North American food plants even more significant. These plants can also generate crops that are more compatible with the ecology of the world, and many also have inherent health benefits. Presenting detailed scholarship, a thoroughly accessible style, and numerous entertaining anecdotes, North American Cornucopia: Top 100 Indigenous Food Plants is a full-color book dedicated to the most important 100 native food plants of North America north of Mexico that have achieved commercial success or have substantial market potential. The introductory chapter reviews the historical development of North American indigenous crops and factors bearing on their future economic success. The rest of the book consists of 100 chapters, each dedicated to a particular crop. The book employs a user-friendly chapter format that presents the material in sections offering in-depth coverage of each plant. The first section of each chapter provides information on the scientific and English names of the plants, followed by a section on the geography and ecology of the wild forms, accompanied by a map showing the North American distribution. A section entitled "Plant Portrait" comprises a basic description of the plant, its history, and its economic and social importance. This is followed by "Culinary Portrait," concerned with food uses and culinary vocabulary. The chapters then provide an analysis of the economic future of each crop, discuss notable and interesting scientific or technological observations and accomplishments, and present extensive references.