Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Two Tomato Species from the Galapagos Islands

A study on the genetic diversity and population structure of two Galapagos tomato species, Solanum cheesmaniae and Solanum galapagense, reveals distinct evolutionary patterns linked to the islands' geological history. Analysis of 3,974 polymorphic SNP markers using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and STRUCTURE identified clear genetic distinctions between the species, with S. cheesmaniae showing subdivision based on geographical origin and island age. The findings suggest that the movement of the Galapagos Islands from west to east influenced gene flow in S. cheesmaniae, while the absence of S. galapagense in eastern islands indicates post-isolation divergence. This research highlights the potential of these species for plant breeding, offering novel alleles contributing to stress tolerance.

Pailles, Y., Ho, S., Pires, I. S., Tester, M., Negrão, S., & Schmöckel, S. M. (2017). Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Two Tomato Species from the Galapagos Islands. Frontiers in Plant Science, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.00138