RA1 THESIS: Population genetics for ...

A population genetics investigation of the New Zealand endemic Lophomyrtus bullata (Myrtaceae), a species of conservation concern due to the threat of myrtle rust

August 2023

MacDonald A. 2023. A population genetics investigation of the New Zealand endemic Lophomyrtus bullata (Myrtaceae), a species of conservation concern due to the threat of myrtle rust: a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Biological Sciences at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Unpublished Masters thesis, Massey University, Massey University. 109 p.

ABSTRACT

Lophomyrtus bullata Burret (Myrtaceae) is a shrub or small tree species endemic to New Zealand. The conservation status of L. bullata was raised to “Threatened – Nationally Critical” following the establishment of the fungal pathogen Austropuccinia psidii (G. Winter) Beenken 2017 in New Zealand in 2017. Repeated infections of the fungal disease can lead to extensive loss of foliage, premature dropping of fruits and plant death. Infected L. bullata exhibit all these symptoms, and rapidly declining regional populations indicate a high potential for localised extinction. An understanding of the genetic variation and structure of populations could help determine its vulnerability to such genetic effects. To this end, Illumina sequencing was used to develop microsatellite markers for L. bullata.

KEYWORDS

Lophomyrtus bullata; Austropuccinia psidii; myrtle rust; genetic diversity