Population Variation and Phylogeography of Cherry Blossom (Prunus conradinae) in China

A comprehensive analysis of the cherry blossom (Prunus conradinae) reveals significant genetic diversity and distinct phylogeographic structure across Central, East, and Southwest China. The study, combining morphological and molecular data from 244 individuals, identified two major lineages that diverged approximately 4.38 million years ago due to geographic isolation. While the Southwest region shows lower genetic differentiation with evident gene exchange, Central China exhibits pronounced differentiation. The findings also support a new variant (P. conradinae var. rubrum) and highlight Mount Wuyi's southeastern region as a potential refuge for this species. This research provides critical insights for the conservation and exploitation of P. conradinae germplasm resources.

Dong, J., Yi, X., Wang, X., Li, M., Chen, X., Gao, S., Fu, W., Qian, S., Zeng, X., & Yun, Y. (2024). Population Variation and Phylogeography of Cherry Blossom (Prunus conradinae) in China. Plants, 13(7), 974. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13070974