Unlocking the geography of Azobé timber (Lophira alata): revealing spatial genetic structure beyond species boundaries
The distribution of haplotypes revealed a clear spatial structure. Some widely spread haplotypes potentially hamper site distinction of Azobé wood samples, but still reveal their wider region of origin. In regions where endemic haplotypes are present, differentiation may be successful at finer scales. Thus, the potential spatial resolution for timber tracing may vary across regions. We assembled the first reference database of plastome-wide SNP datasets for Azobé timber, with a focus on the major logging areas. Our work represents a step towards plastome-based timber tracing for this species, but also reveals limited potential of this method for species differentiation. To validate the potential of the plastid genome for timber tracing, further steps, including assignment and blind sample tests, will be needed.
Authors
- Dyana Ndiade-Bourobou
- Nestor Laurier Engone Obiang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2620-8657)
- Olivier J. Hardy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2052-1527)
- Danny Esselink (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9803-7386)
- Barbara Rocha Venâncio Meyer-Sand (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1291-8145)
- Mesly Guieshon-Engongoro
- M.J.M. Smulders (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8549-6046)
- Rita M.D. Ndangani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3065-6655)
- Dieu-merci M.F. Mbika
- Pascaline T. Zemtsa
- G.A. de Groot (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7308-9200)
- Martin T. Tchamba
- Herman T. Zanguim
- Steve N. Tassiamba (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4899-4537)
- Jannici C.U. Ciliane-Madikou
- Pieter A. Zuidema (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8100-1168)
- Cynel G. Moundounga
- Bijoux B.L. Toumba-Paka
- Laura E. Boeschoten (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6061-2194)
- Gaël U.D. Bouka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8850-522X)
- Simon Jansen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3099-1576)
- Joël Loumeto
- Nathalie de Vries
Institutions
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (BE)
- Université de Dschang (CM)
- Institut Africain d'Informatique (GA)
- Marien Ngouabi University (CG)
- Columbia University (US)
- Wageningen University & Research (NL)
- BOKU University (AT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BMC Plant Biology
- Published
- 2025-03-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06287-2
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- African Botany and Ecology Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 12.86
Funders
- Alberta Mennega Stichting
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek