生物多样性 ›› 2026, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (6): 26152.  DOI: 10.17520/biods.2026152  cstr: 32101.14.biods.2026152

• 研究报告: 遗传多样性 • 上一篇    下一篇

第三极特有果树光核桃的起源与扩散历史

孔星1,2,3(), 孙向前1,2,3(), 赵本琴1,2,3(), 龚洵2(), 蔡杰1(), 刘杰1,2,*()()   

  1. 1 中国科学院昆明植物研究所西南野生生物种质资源库, 昆明 650201
    2 中国科学院昆明植物研究所东亚植物多样性与生物地理学重点实验室, 昆明 650201
    3 中国科学院大学, 北京 100049
  • 收稿日期:2026-04-25 接受日期:2026-05-15 出版日期:2026-06-20 发布日期:2026-07-30
  • 通讯作者: *E-mail: liujie@mail.kib.ac.cn
  • 基金资助:
    国家重点研发计划(2024YFD1200704);国家自然科学基金(41971071);国家留学基金委访问学者项目(202304910135);中国科学院“西部之光”人才项目和云南省“万人计划”人才项目(YNWR-QNBJ-2020-293)

Origin and dispersal history of Tibetan peach in the Third Pole

Xing Kong1,2,3(), Xiangqian Sun1,2,3(), Benqin Zhao1,2,3(), Xun Gong2(), Jie Cai1(), Jie Liu1,2,*()()   

  1. 1 Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
    2 CAS Key Laboratory for Plant and Biodiversity of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
    3 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2026-04-25 Accepted:2026-05-15 Online:2026-06-20 Published:2026-07-30
  • Contact: *E-mail: liujie@mail.kib.ac.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Key R&D Program of China(2024YFD1200704);National Natural Science Foundation of China(41971071);China Scholarship Council(202304910135);CAS “Light of West China” Program, and the Top-notch Young Talents Project of Yunnan Provincial “Ten Thousand Talents Program”(YNWR-QNBJ-2020-293)

摘要: 光核桃(Prunus mira)是栽培桃(P. persica)的野生近缘种, 局限分布于第三极地区的横断山与喜马拉雅, 兼具独特的生态适应性与重要的经济价值, 但其起源及扩散历史尚不明确。本研究基于746份光核桃的质体基因组(ptDNA)与核糖体DNA (nrDNA)序列, 结合谱系地理学分析与物种分布模拟, 重建了该物种的演化历史。群体遗传结构分析显示, 尽管nrDNA数据集无明显的遗传聚类, 但质体基因组包括3个显著分化的遗传分支(Clade A、B、C)。其中, Clade A与Clade B分布于滇西北和藏东南, 而Clade C集中分布于四川西部。分化时间估算表明, 光核桃起源于约8.69 Ma, 3个分支于上新世中期(3.64–4.56 Ma)分化, 这可能与青藏高原隆升及亚洲季风气候增强有关。遗传多样性分析显示, Clade A与Clade B的遗传多样性中心及私有单倍型高值区位于滇西北, 而Clade C的多样性中心则位于川西; 同时, 这两个区域也是光核桃nrDNA多样性和特有性中心, 且为不同历史时期潜在分布较为稳定的地区。由此, 我们推测这两个区域为光核桃末次冰盛期的独立避难所。种群动态历史分析进一步检测到, Clade A和Clade C约在1,500年前(唐朝)和600年前(明朝)经历了有效种群规模快速扩张, 这一动态与区域内茶马古道的兴衰历史吻合。综上所述, 我们推测光核桃应起源于滇西北与川西地区, 并沿茶马古道扩散至藏东南及喜马拉雅地区。本研究在系统解析光核桃起源与扩散历史的同时, 也为其种质资源的有效保护与可持续利用提供了科学依据。

关键词: 第三极, 光核桃, 质体基因组, 母系起源, 谱系地理学, 生态位模拟

Abstract

Aims: Tibetan peach (Prunus mira) is an endemic wild relative of cultivated peach distributed in the Third Pole, primarily within the Himalaya and Hengduan Mountains biodiversity hotspots. It possesses unique ecological adaptability and significant economic value. This study aims to investigate the population structure and genetic diversity of P. mira, reconstruct its origin and dispersal history, and identify glacial refugia, thereby providing a scientific basis for the conservation and sustainable utilization of this wild peach germplasm resource. 

Methods: We analyzed 746 individuals of P. mira from Xizang, Yunnan, and Sichuan, covering the entire species range. Whole plastid genome and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences were used to investigate genetic diversity and phylogeographic structure, estimate divergence times, and infer population demographic history. Additionally, we conducted species distribution modeling to assess stable potential distribution areas of P. mira from the past to the future. 

Results: Population structure analyses suggested that there was no clear genetic structure in the nrDNA dataset, whereas the plastome recognized three distinct clades (Clade A, Clade B, and Clade C) within P. mira populations, indicating that P. mira comprised three distinct maternal lineages. Notably, geographical distribution patterns showed that Clade C exhibited a narrow distribution, mainly concentrated in the western Sichuan. While Clade A and Clade B had a similar geographic range in the northwestern Yunnan and southeastern Xizang. Divergence time estimates indicated that the P. mira originated around 8.69 Ma, with its three clades diverged in the middle Pliocene (3.64–4.56 Ma), which might be related to the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and the intensification of the Asian Summer Monsoon. Genetic diversity analysis identified northwestern Yunnan as the genetic diversity core and private haplotype hotspot for Clade A and Clade B, and western Sichuan as the diversity center for Clade C. Moreover, the observation that these two regions exhibited high and unique nrDNA diversity, and together maintained relatively stable potential distributions across multiple historical periods, supported their role as independent refugia during the last glacial period. Population demographic analysis further showed that Clade A and Clade C experienced significant population expansion approximately 1,500 and 600 years ago, respectively, which was consistent with the rise and fall of the Tea Horse Road in the region. Collectively, these findings suggested that P. mira originated in northwestern Yunnan and western Sichuan, and subsequently expanded westward to southeastern Xizang and the Himalaya, likely along the ancient Tea Horse Road. 

Conclusion: By combining molecular phylogeography with species distribution modeling, this study provides a coherent framework for understanding the complex evolutionary history of P. mira. The results reveal three distinct maternal lineages within the species, identify two independent glacial refugia (northwestern Yunnan and western Sichuan), and suggest that the ancient Tea Horse Road may have served as a dispersal corridor facilitating the westward expansion of P. mira into southeastern Xizang and the Himalaya. Together, this study not only provides new insights into the evolutionary history of P. mira and a scientific basis for the conservation and sustainable utilization of its genetic resources, but also establishes a new research paradigm for using phylogeographic approaches to explore biological distribution shifts driven by the synergistic effects of natural processes and human activities.

Key words: Third Pole, Prunus mira, plastid genome, maternal origin, phylogeography, ecological niche modelling