Understanding genetic divergence and climate adaptation in
5 affiliations
- 1School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; Henan Funiu Mountain Biological and Ecological Environment Observatory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- 2School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- 3Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
- 4School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- 5School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; Henan Funiu Mountain Biological and Ecological Environment Observatory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; Corresponding author at: School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No.100 Science Avenue, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province 450001, China.
Abstract
Climate change is severely threatening the diversity and medicinal efficacy of medicinal plants, negatively impacting the sustainable development of medicinal plant economic forests, necessitating the use of tools like landscape genomics to analyze climate adaptability, manage germplasm resources, and promote climate-resilient breeding. Cornus officinalis , an important woody traditional Chinese medicinal plant, is primarily distributed in the Qinling-Funiu and Tianmu Mountains in China, serving as an economically important forest resource. This study investigated population structure, local adaptation, and genomic vulnerability to climate change in C. officinalis , using double-digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing data from its native populations in China’s core distribution ranges. Genetic structure analysis revealed three distinct lineages corresponding to major mountain ranges: Qinling, Funiu, and Tianmu Mountains. Extensive gene flow, particularly involving the Funiu lineage, suggests significant human-mediated introduction or natural gene flow blurring genetic boundaries. Strong isolation by distance (IBD) and isolation by environment (IBE) were detected. A total of 1113 candidate SNPs under selection were annotated with genes involved in stress response, secondary metabolism, and development. Lineage-specific environmental drivers were identified: temperature seasonality (Bio4) and isothermality (Bio3) for the Funiu lineage, and annual precipitation (Bio12) for the Tianmu lineage. Projections under future climate scenarios revealed significant genetic offset, particularly for Qinling lineage populations when using genotype-environment associated SNPs, suggesting increased genomic vulnerability. These findings underscore the roles of geographic barriers, local adaptation and anthropogenic activity in shaping current genetic structure of C. officinalis and highlight the need for lineage-specific conservation strategies and climate-resilient breeding guidelines for C. officinalis .
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BibTeX
@article{zhang2026understanding,
title = {{Understanding genetic divergence and climate adaptation in}},
author = {Ningning Zhang and Yuhui Wang and Lili Yang and Saibin Fan and Wenqing Wang and Yong Lai and Caipeng Yue and Yao Ma and Jinyong Huang and Shixin Zhu and Yang Lu},
journal = {Trees, Forests and People},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.tfp.2026.101537},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2026.101537},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Understanding genetic divergence and climate adaptation in
AU - Ningning Zhang
AU - Yuhui Wang
AU - Lili Yang
AU - Saibin Fan
AU - Wenqing Wang
AU - Yong Lai
AU - Caipeng Yue
AU - Yao Ma
AU - Jinyong Huang
AU - Shixin Zhu
AU - Yang Lu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Trees, Forests and People
DO - 10.1016/j.tfp.2026.101537
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2026.101537
AB - Climate change is severely threatening the diversity and medicinal efficacy of medicinal plants, negatively impacting the sustainable development of medicinal plant economic forests, necessitating the use of tools like landscape genomics to analyze climate adaptability, manage germplasm resources, and promote climate-resilient breeding. Cornus officinalis , an important woody traditional Chinese medicinal plant, is primarily distributed in the Qinling-Funiu and Tianmu Mountains in China, serving as an economically important forest resource. This study investigated population structure, local adaptation, and genomic vulnerability to climate change in C. officinalis , using double-digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing data from its native populations in China’s core distribution ranges. Genetic structure analysis revealed three distinct lineages corresponding to major mountain ranges: Qinling, Funiu, and Tianmu Mountains. Extensive gene flow, particularly involving the Funiu lineage, suggests significant human-mediated introduction or natural gene flow blurring genetic boundaries. Strong isolation by distance (IBD) and isolation by environment (IBE) were detected. A total of 1113 candidate SNPs under selection were annotated with genes involved in stress response, secondary metabolism, and development. Lineage-specific environmental drivers were identified: temperature seasonality (Bio4) and isothermality (Bio3) for the Funiu lineage, and annual precipitation (Bio12) for the Tianmu lineage. Projections under future climate scenarios revealed significant genetic offset, particularly for Qinling lineage populations when using genotype-environment associated SNPs, suggesting increased genomic vulnerability. These findings underscore the roles of geographic barriers, local adaptation and anthropogenic activity in shaping current genetic structure of C. officinalis and highlight the need for lineage-specific conservation strategies and climate-resilient breeding guidelines for C. officinalis .
SN - 2666-7193
ER -