2016). Natural hybridization is common in plants and has been observed with mangrove species. Putative hybrids have been reported within the major genera of Rhizophora, Sonneratia, Lumnitzera and Brugueira (Tomlinson, 1986; Duke and Ge, 2001). To identify natural hybrids of the mangroves Rhizophora apiculata, R. mucronata and R. stylosa in Malaysia Ng et. al. (2013) and Ng and Smidt (2013) used single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from nuclear genomes. In Thailand one putative hybrid of Rhizophora spp. was discovered at Sirindhorn International Environment Park (SIEP), Cha-am, Phetchaburi Province (12°42′ 17.57"N; 99°57′ 43.67"E). At the time of discovery this hybrid had the following attributes: height 9.0 m; Girth above uppermost prop roots 40.0 cm with prop roots of 20 cm in girth. Rhizophora mucronata and R. apiculata trees near this hybrid were only 5.8 m in height. While leaf size of the hybrid did not differ from those of parental types, some colour pigmentation differences were observed near the base of the midrib: here R. mucronta was light green, R. apiculata was red and the putative hybrid displayed a much lighter red pigmentation. Likewise, differences were displayed in flower attributes; those of R. apiculata were paired on short stalks; R. mucronata flowers were organized in groups of 3-8 flowers on long stalks. Those of the putative hybrid were paired with a 2-3 cm stalk (Figure 1). Interestingly, some hybrid prop roots were oriented on angles greater than 90 degrees from the main trunk in contrast to those of R. apiculata which displayed more typical angles of 90 degrees or les s . Additionally, the hybrid produced many branches within the prop root zone (Figure 2). Based on these observat ions of morphological attributes the aim of this study was to seek evidence that this hybrid was in fact a putative hybrid of two Rhizophora species using SNPs from nuclear and chloroplast regions. Fig.2 Prop roots of hybrid mangrove Fig.1 Leaves and flowers of putative hybrid (above), Rhizophora mucronata (left) and Rhizophora apiculata (right) Proceedings of the International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the 53 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
Proceedings of International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development Goals : Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016 at the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
To see the actual publication please follow the link above