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Article

Comparative Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Wild Atalantia from Taiwan and Sri Lanka Using SSR Markers

by
Piumi Chathurika Palangasinghe
1,
Huie-Chuan Shih
2,
Yi-Han Chang
3,
Wasantha Kumara Liyanage
4,
Annamalai Muthusamy
5,
Meng-Shin Shiao
6,* and
Yu-Chung Chiang
1,7,*
1
Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, 70 Lienhai Road, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan
2
Department of Nursing, Meiho University, Pingtung 91202, Taiwan
3
Hengchun Research Center, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Pingtung 94644, Taiwan
4
Department of Agricultural Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Mapalana 81100, Sri Lanka
5
Department of Plant Sciences, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India
6
Research Laboratory Section, Offices of Health Science Research, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
7
Department of Biomedical Science and Environment Biology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Plants 2026, 15(4), 570; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15040570
Submission received: 13 January 2026 / Revised: 4 February 2026 / Accepted: 9 February 2026 / Published: 11 February 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Plants)
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Abstract

Understanding genetic diversity and population structure in wild Citrus relatives is crucial for conservation and crop improvement. Here, we examined genetic variation in Atalantia buxifolia from the island of Taiwan and Atalantia ceylanica from Sri Lanka using 21 transferable microsatellite (SSR) markers originally developed for Citrus. A total of 132 individuals from 13 populations were genotyped. Both species exhibited moderate levels of polymorphism, with A. buxifolia showing slightly higher allelic richness and heterozygosity than A. ceylanica. Analysis of molecular variance indicated that most genetic variation occurred within individuals (68% in A. buxifolia and 82% in A. ceylanica), while moderate population differentiation was detected (FST = 0.356 and 0.204, respectively). STRUCTURE, DAPC, PCoA, and FST analyses revealed distinct regional clustering in A. buxifolia, particularly in the Shoushan population, whereas populations of A. ceylanica were weakly structured. Monmonier’s analysis identified genetic barriers only in A. buxifolia, and BayesAss indicated high self-recruitment and localized gene flow in both species. Overall, these results suggest high within-population genetic diversity but limited connectivity among populations, shaped by geographic isolation and habitat fragmentation. Our findings provide a baseline for conservation planning in Atalantia populations and highlight the importance of maintaining habitat connectivity to preserve genetic resilience.
Keywords: genetic diversity; population structure; Atalantia; microsatellites; conservation; habitat fragmentation genetic diversity; population structure; Atalantia; microsatellites; conservation; habitat fragmentation

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MDPI and ACS Style

Palangasinghe, P.C.; Shih, H.-C.; Chang, Y.-H.; Liyanage, W.K.; Muthusamy, A.; Shiao, M.-S.; Chiang, Y.-C. Comparative Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Wild Atalantia from Taiwan and Sri Lanka Using SSR Markers. Plants 2026, 15, 570. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15040570

AMA Style

Palangasinghe PC, Shih H-C, Chang Y-H, Liyanage WK, Muthusamy A, Shiao M-S, Chiang Y-C. Comparative Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Wild Atalantia from Taiwan and Sri Lanka Using SSR Markers. Plants. 2026; 15(4):570. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15040570

Chicago/Turabian Style

Palangasinghe, Piumi Chathurika, Huie-Chuan Shih, Yi-Han Chang, Wasantha Kumara Liyanage, Annamalai Muthusamy, Meng-Shin Shiao, and Yu-Chung Chiang. 2026. "Comparative Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Wild Atalantia from Taiwan and Sri Lanka Using SSR Markers" Plants 15, no. 4: 570. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15040570

APA Style

Palangasinghe, P. C., Shih, H.-C., Chang, Y.-H., Liyanage, W. K., Muthusamy, A., Shiao, M.-S., & Chiang, Y.-C. (2026). Comparative Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Wild Atalantia from Taiwan and Sri Lanka Using SSR Markers. Plants, 15(4), 570. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15040570

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