Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Aquatic Plants

Genetic diversity and population structure in aquatic plants underpin the capacity of wetland ecosystems to adapt to environmental change, support biodiversity and maintain ecosystem services. Genetic diversity refers to the variety of alleles and genotypes within and between populations, while population structure describes how this variation is partitioned by geography, reproductive strategy or ecological barriers. In aquatic plants, both clonal propagation and sexual reproduction contribute to complex patterns of diversity. High-resolution molecular markers, including simple sequence repeats (SSRs), single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs), together with next-generation sequencing techniques such as restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq), have revealed contrasting genetic signatures among species. Some taxa exhibit high within-population diversity but low differentiation, reflecting extensive gene flow via water currents or animal vectors. Others, particularly those reliant on vegetative spread or fragmented habitats, show strong genetic structure and reduced allelic richness. For example, tropical lotus populations in Asia form distinct genetic clusters separated by geographical distance, while clonal macrophytes such as Stratiotes aloides display low within-stand diversity yet marked differentiation among river systems. Understanding these patterns is essential for identifying conservation units, guiding reintroduction efforts and informing molecular breeding programmes in economically important aquatic crops such as lotus, taro and water lily.

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Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Aquatic Plants publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in genetic diversity and population structure in aquatic plants across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Genetic diversity: The range of genetic variation within and among populations of a species.

Population structure: The organisation of genetic variation across populations, often influenced by gene flow, reproduction and barriers to dispersal.

Microsatellite marker (SSR): A DNA locus with tandem repeats of short motifs, highly polymorphic and widely used to assess genetic variation.

Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP): A variation at a single nucleotide position in the genome, serving as a high-throughput marker for genotyping.

Clonal propagation: A reproductive strategy in which genetically identical offspring are produced from vegetative tissue rather than by sexual reproduction.

Gene flow: The movement of alleles among populations through dispersal of seeds, pollen or vegetative fragments.

References

1. Contrasting Reproductive Strategies of Two Nymphaea Species Affect Existing Natural Genetic Diversity as Assessed by Microsatellite Markers: Implications for Conservation and Wetlands Restoration. Frontiers in Plant Science (2022).
2. Genetic Diversity of Stratiotes aloides L. (Hydrocharitaceae) Stands across Europe. Plants (2021).
3. The level of genetic diversity and differentiation of tropical lotus, Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (Nelumbonaceae) from Australia, India, and Thailand. Botanical Studies (2020).