RT Journal Article
T1 Genetic Diversity and Risk of Non-Adaptedness in Natural North Moroccan and Planted South Spanish Atlas Cedar
A1 Méndez-Cea, Belén
A1 García-García, Isabel
A1 Manso-Martínez, David
A1 Linares, Juan Carlos
A1 Gallego, Francisco Javier
A1 Horreo, Jose Luis
A1 Méndez Cea, Belén
A1 García García, Isabel
A1 Gallego Rodríguez, Francisco Javier
A1 Hórreo Escandón, José Luis
AB The Atlas cedar Cedrus atlantica is a relict and endemic conifer from Morocco and Algeria, although plantations may be found in several locations aside from its natural range. Recurrent droughts have been widely related to Atlas cedar dieback, growth decline, and mortality, but the genetic basis of potential adaptive capacity is unknown. We used the double digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing technique (ddRAD-seq) to describe the genetic structure and variability of Atlas cedar along an aridity gradient in Morocco. Furthermore, we investigated the potential genetic origin of three Spanish plantations, also along an aridity gradient. The obtained single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used to perform genotype–environment associations (GEAs) to define SNPs related to bioclimatic variables of temperature and precipitation. The vulnerability of this species to environmental variations was also estimated by its risk of non-adaptedness (RONA). Population structure showed a divergence between the Moroccan natural stands and some of the Spanish plantations, with each Moroccan nucleus being genetically distinct. The genetic variability was significantly lower in plantations than in natural populations. The drier Spanish plantations (easternmost) were genetically very similar to the driest Moroccan population (southernmost), suggesting that as its origin. A total of 41 loci under selection were obtained with the Moroccan dataset. In relation to temperature and precipitation variables, isothermality showed the highest number of associated loci (10) in GEA studies, and genotype–phenotype associations (GPAs) showed one locus associated with the Specific Leaf Area. RONA value was higher in the southernmost High Atlas population, where rising temperature was the main driver of expected genetic offset by allele frequency changes under the worst emissions scenario. In contrast, Spanish plantations would need smaller genetic changes to cope with the expected climate change. Likely gene flow from southern to northern areas suggests a latitudinal heading, where Spanish plantations might operate as an assisted migration. Moreover, one locus showed a northern/southern pattern in saplings but not in adults, suggesting a potential latitudinal pattern of selection. Our results are discussed on the basis of their management and conservation.
PB MDPI
SN 1999-4907
YR 2025
FD 2025-09-08
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/128866
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/128866
LA eng
NO Méndez-Cea, B., García-García, I., Manso-Martínez, D., Linares, J. C., Gallego, F. J., & Horreo, J. L. (2025). Genetic Diversity and Risk of Non-Adaptedness in Natural North Moroccan and Planted South Spanish Atlas Cedar. Forests, 16(9), 1434. https://doi.org/10.3390/f16091434
NO This research was funded by Junta de Andalucía (grant number PAIDI, P18-RT-1170) and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (grant numbers TED2021-129770B-34C22 and PID2021-123675OB-C44).
NO Junta de Andalucía
NO Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 7 abr 2026