Genetic Diversity and Molecular Characterization in Plant and Aquatic Species
Summary
Genetic diversity underpins the resilience, productivity and adaptive potential of both terrestrial and aquatic organisms. In plant species, diverse allelic repertoires mitigate the effects of environmental stress, support sustainable forestry and enhance crop improvement. In aquatic species, genetic variation sustains healthy populations in aquaculture and informs selective breeding for desirable traits such as growth rate and disease resistance. Molecular characterisation has evolved from simple sequence repeat (SSR) panels to high-throughput single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays and transcriptome profiling, enabling fine-scale resolution of population structure, kinship and gene-trait associations. These advances have facilitated the establishment of germplasm banks, guided ex situ conservation and optimised breeding schemes through marker-assisted selection. In aquatic systems, molecular tools help trace parental contributions, monitor inbreeding and uncover the genomic basis of growth hormone variation. Integrative approaches combining nuclear and organellar markers reveal historical demography and contemporary gene flow, with implications for sustainable management. Across ecosystems, such insights inform restoration practices, support the management of invasive species and underpin strategies to safeguard genetic resources in the face of climate change.
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Genetic Diversity and Molecular Characterization in Plant and Aquatic Species publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in genetic diversity and molecular characterization in plant and aquatic species across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker: Short, tandemly repeated DNA motifs used to assess genetic variation and population structure.
Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP): A single base-pair variation in the genome that can serve as a high-resolution genetic marker.
Heterozygosity: The proportion of individuals carrying two different alleles at a locus, indicating genetic diversity within a population.
Haplotype: A combination of alleles at adjacent loci on a chromosome inherited together as a unit.
RNA interference (RNAi): A molecular technique that silences gene expression to determine gene function experimentally.
References
- Parental contribution and growth hormone gene polymorphism associated with growth phenotypes of red sea bream Pagrus major in mass production: A case study. Aquaculture Reports (2015).
- Genetic diversity of Dalbergia melanoxylon Guill. & Perr. populations in the Ferlo zone (Senegal) using nuclear and chloroplast microsatellite markers. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution (2024).
- Clonality in black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and implications for seed production. Annals of Forest Science (2024).
- Functional Analysis of NdBCO-like4 Gene in Pigmentation of Neocaridina denticulata sinensis. Fishes (2025).
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