ddRAD Sequencing-Based Scanning of Genetic Variants in Sargassum fusiforme

Sargassum fusiforme is a commercially important brown seaweed that has experienced significant population reduction both from heavy exploitation and degradation of the environment. Cultivated breed strains are also in a state of population mixing. These population stressors make it necessary to investigate the population genetics to discover best practices to conserve and breed this seaweed. In this study, the genetic diversity and population structure of S. fusiforme were investigated by the genome-wide SNP data acquired from double digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq). We found a low genetic diversity and a slight population differentiation within and between wild and cultivated populations, and the effective population size of S. fusiforme had experienced a continuous decline. Tajima's D analysis showed the population contraction in wild populations may be related to copper pollution which showed a consistent trend with the increase of the sea surface temperature. The potential selection signatures may change the timing or level of gene expression, and further experiments are needed to investigate the effect of the mutation on relevant pathways. These results suggest an urgent need to manage and conserve S. fusiforme resources and biodiversity considering the accelerating change of the environment.