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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » Vegetable Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #408776
Research Project: Management of Potato Genetic Resources and Associated Descriptive Information

Location: Vegetable Crops Research

Title: Evidence for human-caused founder effect in populations of Solanum jamesii at archaeological sites: II. Genetic sequencing establishes ancient transport from the Mogollon Region

Author
item PAVLIK, BRUCE - University Of Utah
item DEL RIO, ALFONSO - University Of Wisconsin
item Bamberg, John
item LOUDERBACK, LISBETH - University Of Utah

Submitted to: American Journal of Botany
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2024
Publication Date: 7/12/2024
Citation: Pavlik, B., Del Rio, A., Bamberg, J.B., Louderback, L. 2024. Evidence for human-caused founder effect in populations of Solanum jamesii at archaeological sites: II. Genetic sequencing establishes ancient transport from the Mogollon Region. American Journal of Botany. 2024;e16365.. http://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.16365.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.16365

Interpretive Summary: Potato is the world's top vegetable crop, but needs ongoing breeding for improved varieties. The US Potato Genebank, located at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, preserves and distributes potato breeding stocks, including wild potato relatives, and studies their qualities. USDA/ARS scientists and collaborators researched the patterns of genetic markers among populations of Solanum jamesii (jam) a wild potato species native to the USA. Those patterns were found to corresponded to the degree to which the population associated with locations known to have ancient human habitation. Such insights could help explain the distribution of jam across its natural range, and thereby provide clues for more efficient collecting and capture of trait diversity for use in potato crop breeding.

Technical Abstract: The domestication of wild plant species can begin with gathering and transport of propagules by Indigenous peoples. The effect on genomic composition, especially in clonal, self-incompatible perennials would be instantaneous and drastic with respect to new, anthropogenic populations subsequently established. Populations of the Four Corners potato, Solanum jamesii Torr., associated with archaeological sites in Utah and northern Arizona are unable to produce seeds and fruits unless crossed with non-archaeological populations. Presumably, founder events reduced genetic diversity and mating capability when tubers were transported and established in ancient gardens. Herein genetic sequencing (GBS) data is used to further examine the hypothesis of domestication in this culturally significant species by sampling 25 archaeological and non-archaeological populations. Archaeological populations from Utah, Colorado and northern Arizona have lower levels of polymorphic loci, unique alleles and heterozygosity than non-archaeological populations from the Mogollon Region of central Arizona and New Mexico. Principle components analysis, Fst values and structure analysis revealed that genetic relationships among archaeological populations did not correspond to geographic proximity. Populations near Escalante, Utah were either derived from those found on the Mogollon Rim (400 km south) or to those in Bears Ears (178 km east). Populations in Chaco Canyon are also linked, but those in Mesa Verde, Chimney Rock and El Morro have affinities to southern New Mexico and Texas. Movement of tubers from the Mogollon Region may have occurred many times and in multiple directions during the past, resulting in the complex genetic patterns seen across the Four Corners Region.