High gene flow and a population structure corresponding to human rather than geographical drivers are likely to be genetic patterns of human-dispersed plant taxa. We examined variation in geographical structure and gene flow estimates based on three non-coding regions of plastid DNA in three south-west Australian members of the Platysace genus to identify whether a human influence on dispersion of utilized taxa was detectable. Edible tubers of Platysace deflexa and Platysace trachymenioides have been harvested historically by Noongar traditional owners, whereas Platysace effusa has no known cultural significance. We found differences between utilized and non-utilized taxa, particularly when considered against the generally complex phylogeographical patterning in south-west Australian plant taxa. Platysace effusa showed a pattern of high population divergence, low gene flow and multiple refugia, consistent with a long evolutionary history, past climatic oscillations and persistence in a highly fragmented landscape. In contrast, higher gene flow estimates, less divergence between populations and common haplotypes in P. deflexa and in P. trachymenioides over the south-eastern part of its range are consistent with anthropogenic influences. This study contributes to the understanding of human influences on south-west Australian plant taxa that have been present since the late Pleistocene, but to date have received little scientific attention.

中文翻译：

---

澳大利亚西南部的桔梗（A科）：古代人类风景的无声故事讲述者

高基因流和对应于人类而不是地理驱动因素的种群结构可能是人类分散的植物类群的遗传模式。我们基于Platysace属的三个西南澳大利亚成员中质体DNA的三个非编码区，检查了地理结构和基因流量估计值的变异，以确定是否可以检测到人类对利用分类单元的分散的影响。Platysace deflexa和Platysace trachymenioides的食用块茎在历史上是Noongar的传统所有者收获的，而Platysace effusa没有已知的文化意义。我们发现了已利用和未利用的分类单元之间的差异，特别是考虑到澳大利亚西南部植物分类单元中通常较为复杂的系统地理模式时。Platysace effusa表现出高种群分化，低基因流和多重避难的模式，这与漫长的进化历史，过去的气候波动以及在高度零散的景观中的持久性保持一致。相比之下，较高的基因流量估计值，弯曲假单胞菌和曲子P. trachymenioides中种群与常见单倍型之间的差异较小在其范围的东南部，与人为的影响相一致。这项研究有助于人们了解自晚更新世以来对西南西南部植物类群的影响，但迄今为止却很少受到科学关注。