Work

Understanding genetic divergence and climate adaptation in Cornus officinalis for the sustainable management and conservation of medicinal economic forests under human Impact

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Climate change is severely threatening the diversity and medicinal efficacy of medicinal plants, negatively impacting the sustainable development of medicinal plant economic forests, necessitating the use of tools like landscape genomics to analyze climate adaptability, manage germplasm resources, and promote climate-resilient breeding. Cornus officinalis , an important woody traditional Chinese medicinal plant, is primarily distributed in the Qinling-Funiu and Tianmu Mountains in China, serving as an economically important forest resource. This study investigated population structure, local adaptation, and genomic vulnerability to climate change in C. officinalis , using double-digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing data from its native populations in China’s core distribution ranges. Genetic structure analysis revealed three distinct lineages corresponding to major mountain ranges: Qinling, Funiu, and Tianmu Mountains. Extensive gene flow, particularly involving the Funiu lineage, suggests significant human-mediated introduction or natural gene flow blurring genetic boundaries. Strong isolation by distance (IBD) and isolation by environment (IBE) were detected. A total of 1113 candidate SNPs under selection were annotated with genes involved in stress response, secondary metabolism, and development. Lineage-specific environmental drivers were identified: temperature seasonality (Bio4) and isothermality (Bio3) for the Funiu lineage, and annual precipitation (Bio12) for the Tianmu lineage. Projections under future climate scenarios revealed significant genetic offset, particularly for Qinling lineage populations when using genotype-environment associated SNPs, suggesting increased genomic vulnerability. These findings underscore the roles of geographic barriers, local adaptation and anthropogenic activity in shaping current genetic structure of C. officinalis and highlight the need for lineage-specific conservation strategies and climate-resilient breeding guidelines for C. officinalis .

Source: Trees Forests and People

DOI: 10.1016/j.tfp.2026.101537