Abstract:
Wild relatives of rice are an important genetic resources in rice breeding. Oryza rufipogon is a
diploid perennial species belongs to AA genome group and sexually compatible with cultivated
rice. The putative ancestor of Asian cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) is endangered in Sri Lanka due
to habitat loss and land fragmentation. However, no proper studies have been performed on
population diversity and habitat fragmentation of the Sri Lankan wild rice species used in our
breeding programs. In this study, we explore the genetic diversity of five Oryza rufipogon
populations using 33 microsatellite loci to infer the effects of habitat fragmentation and isolation
by-distance (IBD) on genetic structure. Results of AMOVA revealed among population variance
(43.7%) and within population (56.31%) variance. Partial Mantel tests (r2=0.306; p value=0.027)
showed that population divergence of Sri Lankan O. rufipogon based on isolation by distance
was statistically significant. Genetic diversity of O. rufipogon was recorded at population level
(0.41) and the individual level (0.62). Preferred habitats of O. rufipogon are swampy areas like
marshes, open ditches, swamps, ponds, pools, along river banks, at the edges of lakes and in or at
the margins of rice fields. Some populations grow under submergence and saline conditions. The
water depth preferences are between 0.2-4.0 m. As a result of human activities such as
agriculture, urbanization and industry have destroyed natural habitats, leading to increasing
habitat fragmentation. Conclusively, these results indicate that IBD due to historical rather than
recent fragmentation, followed by local adaptation, has driven population divergence in O.
rufipogon. Understanding genetic diversity and eco-geographic variation of wild rice in Sri
Lanka is timely requirement it provides opportunities to design conservation strategies and basic
information for proper utilization of wild genetic resources in rice genetic improvement and
breeding.
