Yuqing Liu

University College London, China

Abstract Title: Unveiling the population genetic structure of European hornbeams in the hainault forest: Determining the extent of clonality, genetic diversity and spatiality

Biography:

Research Interest: Understanding the genetic structure of plant populations is essential for informing conservation strategies, particularly under the increasing pressure of climate change and anthropogenic influence. This study investigates the population genetics of European hornbeams (Carpinus betulus) in the Hainault Forest, with a focus on clonality, nuclear genetic diversity, and spatial genetic structure. A total of 77 hornbeam samples were genotyped using SNP markers, and multilocus genotype (MLG) analysis revealed no evidence of clonality, with each sample representing a distinct genotype. Analysis of observed heterozygosity (HO) across eight nuclear chromosomes revealed consistently low values (mean HO = 0.0483), indicating low genetic diversity within the population. Principal component analysis (PCA) and k-means clustering confirmed the absence of genetically distinct sub-populations. Furthermore, regression analyses and spatial autocorrelation tests (Moran’s I and LISA) showed no significant association between genetic variation and geographic coordinates, suggesting a random spatial distribution of genetic diversity. These findings imply that the hornbeam population in Hainault Forest is genetically homogenous and non-clonal, with minimal spatial genetic structure. This contrasts with expectations for long-lived woody species and highlights the importance of considering increasing heterozygosity in local conservation efforts. Future studies should increase sample size, include organellar genomes, and develop a hornbeam reference genome to better characterize evolutionary and ecological dynamics across broader landscapes.