ABSTRACT The genomic knowledge of Euterpe edulis populations with morphological and genetic variations is relevant to species preservation, management, conservation, and improvement. This study aimed to identify genomic differences related to the morphological variants of Euterpe edulis in Espírito Santo (ES). We used 114 Euterpe edulis individuals, which represent different morphotypes, named: Santa Marta, HybridEO (Vargem Alta) ; Euterpe espiritosantensis (Santa Teresa), Tiller (Guarapari) ; Possible hybrid (Fundão) ; characteristic of E. edulis (E. edulis _ RN, E. edulis _ MI, E. edulis _ GUA, and E. edulis _ ALE). The study also included 35 individuals from divergent genetic groups in natural populations from the southeast, north, south, and center‐west Brazil (Federal District). After filtering, 5319 SNPs were used in the genetic diversity and structure. Groups of SNPs differentiating morphotypes were identified and subjected to functional annotation analysis using as reference the Elaeis guineensis genome. Orthology and abundance analysis by Gene Ontology were made. Individuals of HybridEO displayed the highest genetic diversity (He = 0. 23). The other morphotypes displayed He between 0. 107 (E. espiritosantensis) and 0. 197 (E. edulis _ RN). The inbreeding coefficient (Fis) varied between 0. 024 (E. edulis _ RN) and 0. 255 (HybridEO). Genetic variation was 42. 99% between morphotypes and 57. 00% within morphotypes. A k = 4 with individuals with slight admixture was identified. The morphotype E. espiritosantensis was more differentiated. The possible hybrid and progenitor morphotype grouped with E. oleraceae and E. precatoria species in the phylogenetic tree. Alignment of the 1627 SNPs in the Elaeis guinensis genome highlighted 767 aligned sequences in genic regions, of which 195 were in coding regions. The annotation of SNPs for the HybridEO and Tiller morphotypes demonstrated different alleles for genes related to response to stress and environmental stimuli. The identification of common GOs indicates a common genetic background, while the presence of SNPs with differentiating genotypes suggests specific adaptations to different environmental conditions.
Santos et al. (Thu,) studied this question.