Paper · 2026 · Ecology and Evolution

Whole‐Genome Resequencing Reveals the Demographic History and Adaptive Evolution of Tamarix austromongolica in the Yellow River Basin

Shuai Gong; Jia Sun; Jianmin Chu; et al.

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claims
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verbatim quotes
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citations
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Open access · cc-by

Abstract

ABSTRACT Tamarix austromongolica is a native species widely used for ecological restoration in the Yellow River basin. Its natural distribution aligns with the river's strong environmental gradients. Previous research based on traditional molecular markers suggested that the Yellow River acts as an efficient corridor for gene flow, leading to weak genetic differentiation in the species. However, a recent genotyping‐by‐sequencing study indicates a more complex genetic structure. This discrepancy reveals the limitations of low‐resolution genetic markers in resolving genetic differentiation against a background of strong gene flow. Here, we utilized whole‐genome resequencing to analyze genomic variation data from 112 samples collected from 20 populations in the Yellow River Basin. Our results revealed three distinct genetic lineages, each corresponding to a specific habitat: the Liujiaxia lineage (high‐altitude), the Hetao lineage (arid), and the Sanmenxia lineage (saline‐alkali). Demographic modeling indicated that the Liujiaxia lineage diverged first, approximately 470,000 years ago, likely due to glaciation‐induced isolation. Furthermore, significant asymmetric gene flow was detected between the Hetao and Sanmenxia lineages, highlighting the role of the river as a corridor for genetic exchange. Genome‐wide scans identified candidate genes associated with local adaptation in each lineage, with functions primarily related to diverse environmental stress responses, DNA damage repair, and pathogen defense. These results provide a foundation and resources for understanding the mechanisms of river‐driven plant differentiation and the stress‐resistant breeding of T. austromongolica .

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The text the model read, with the source record’s inline markup (italics, sub- and superscripts) rendered and its character entities decoded; quote offsets refer to the raw text.

Claims 5

Observationobservedoriginal resultmeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Tamarix austromongolica forms three distinct genetic lineages, each tied to a specific habitat

Taxon
Tamarix austromongolicaTamarix austromongolicae0
Outcome
three distinct genetic lineagese1
Setting
Yellow River basine0

Verbatim

e0

“Tamarix austromongolica is a native species widely used for ecological restoration in the Yellow River basin”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 9–117 · show in text ↑
e1

“Our results revealed three distinct genetic lineages, each corresponding to a specific habitat”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 789–883 · show in text ↑
Observationobservedoriginal resultsimulated

Claim · model-written summary

In demographic modeling the Liujiaxia lineage diverged first, approximately 470,000 years ago

Taxon
Tamarix austromongolicaTamarix austromongolicae0
Outcome
the Liujiaxia lineage diverged firste2
Value
approximately 470,000 years agoe2

Verbatim

e0

“Tamarix austromongolica is a native species widely used for ecological restoration in the Yellow River basin”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 9–117 · show in text ↑
e2

“Demographic modeling indicated that the Liujiaxia lineage diverged first, approximately 470,000 years ago, likely due to glaciation‐induced isolation”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 993–1142 · show in text ↑
Mechanismhypothesisoriginal resultbasis n/a

Claim · model-written summary

Glaciation-induced isolation is a likely cause of the early divergence of the Liujiaxia lineage

Taxon
Tamarix austromongolicaTamarix austromongolicae0
Outcome
the Liujiaxia lineage diverged firste2
Qualifier
likely due to glaciation‐induced isolatione2

Verbatim

e0

“Tamarix austromongolica is a native species widely used for ecological restoration in the Yellow River basin”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 9–117 · show in text ↑
e2

“Demographic modeling indicated that the Liujiaxia lineage diverged first, approximately 470,000 years ago, likely due to glaciation‐induced isolation”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 993–1142 · show in text ↑
Associationobservedoriginal resultsignificant (as stated)measured

Claim · model-written summary

Significant asymmetric gene flow was detected between the Hetao and Sanmenxia lineages

Taxon
Tamarix austromongolicaTamarix austromongolicae0
Material
the Hetao and Sanmenxia lineagese3
Outcome
asymmetric gene flowe3

Not reportedDirection

Verbatim

e0

“Tamarix austromongolica is a native species widely used for ecological restoration in the Yellow River basin”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 9–117 · show in text ↑
e3

“significant asymmetric gene flow was detected between the Hetao and Sanmenxia lineages”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1157–1243 · show in text ↑
Associationobservedoriginal resultmeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Candidate genes for local adaptation in each lineage relate to environmental stress responses, DNA damage repair and pathogen defense

Taxon
Tamarix austromongolicaTamarix austromongolicae0
Material
each lineagee4
Outcome
functions primarily related to diverse environmental stress responses, DNA damage repair, and pathogen defensee4

Not reportedDirection

Verbatim

e0

“Tamarix austromongolica is a native species widely used for ecological restoration in the Yellow River basin”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 9–117 · show in text ↑
e4

“candidate genes associated with local adaptation in each lineage, with functions primarily related to diverse environmental stress responses, DNA damage repair, and pathogen defense”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1345–1526 · show in text ↑