Interpolating Genetic Variation in Natural Populations: A Case Study of Plains Rough Fescue (Festuca hallii)

摘要

Characterization of individual genetic variation within a plant population is an important component of plantconservation and evolutionary genetics. Here we present a marker-based approach to interpolating individual genetic informationfrom a sample of plants to the whole population. The effectiveness of the approach was demonstrated by applyingAFLP markers to estimate genetic distinctiveness from a sample of Festuca hallii (Vassey) Piper plants in six populations across the Canadian Prairies and proposing a linear interpolation to map the estimated genetic distinctiveness withineach population. The interpolation was empirically verified for its effectiveness in one fescue population. Issues associatedwith and potential utility of the proposed interpolation are discussed.