title: Genetic diversity and population structure of six species of Capparis in Tunisia using AFLP markers.
abstract: In order to study the genetic diversity, the phylogeographic pattern and hybridization between six Tunisian Capparis species, 213 accessions of Caper were genotyped with three primer combinations of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Out of 750 fragments generated, 636 were polymorphic and 407 of them were restricted to a single species. STRUCTURE and PCoA analyses clearly separated morphologically different populations into six distinct genetic ones. The UPGMA analysis grouped the species into three main clusters: G1 grouped C. spinosa subsp. spinosa var. spinosa and C. sicula subsp. sicula; G2 grouped C. ovata subsp. ovata and C. orientalis and G3 clustered C. zoharyi and C. aegyptia. Populations from G1, G2 and G3 were mainly distributed in arid, subhumid, and semi-arid bioclimates, respectively. Additional genetic studies on Capparis could help to identify genes underlying speciation events and local adaptation to geographic areas leading to the development of breeding programs.
authors.affiliation: Tunisian National Institute of Agronomy, University of Carthage, 43, avenue Charles-Nicolle, Mahrajène, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia; Unit of research Bicade: Biogeography, Bioclimatology applied and erosive Dynamics, Faculty of Arts and Humanities of Mannouba, Mannouba, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Haifa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aichi-Yousfi
authors.affiliation: Tunisian National Institute of Agronomy, University of Carthage, 43, avenue Charles-Nicolle, Mahrajène, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia. Electronic address: bochraaminabahri@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bochra Amina
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Bahri
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Biotechnology, Tunisian National Genes Bank, boulevard du Leader-Yasser-Arafat, Z.I. Charguia, 1080 Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Maher
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Medini
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Production, Agricultural High School of Mograne, University of Carthage, Mograne, 1121 Zaghouan, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Slim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rouz
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Forest Ecology, National Institute for Research in Rural Engineering, Water and Forests, BP 10, 2080 Ariana, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nejib Rejeb
authors.affiliation: Tunisian National Institute of Agronomy, University of Carthage, 43, avenue Charles-Nicolle, Mahrajène, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia; Unit of research Bicade: Biogeography, Bioclimatology applied and erosive Dynamics, Faculty of Arts and Humanities of Mannouba, Mannouba, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Zeineb
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ghrabi-Gammar
mesh_terms: D054458:Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis; D031484:Capparis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D002980:Climate; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D005843:Geography; D010802:Phylogeny; D011153:Population; D013045:Species Specificity; D014416:Tunisia
chemical_list: D018744:DNA, Plant; D005819:Genetic Markers
keywords: AFLP; Capparis; Genetic distance; Phylogeny; Population structure