Population history rather than tree age contributes to the evolutionary importance of ancient trees in an endangered conifer.

Abstract excerpt

Ancient trees are in global decline and face increasing conservation challenges. Their exceptional longevity has fostered the view that they are genetic reservoirs, yet whether old age is synonymous with unique genetic variation remains unclear. Here we assembled a ~8-Gb chromosome-level reference genome for the critically endangered conifer Glyptostrobus pensilis, now largely restricted to southern China with...

Topics

• Endangered Species
• Tracheophyta
• Genetic Variation
• Biological Evolution
• Trees
• Genome, Plant
• China