Phylogeography, evolutionary history and conservation genetics of Brazilian fruits: bacuri (Platonia insignis), hog plum (Spondias mombin) and umbu (Spondias tuberosa)

Abstract

In Brazil, the extraordinary diversity and potentiality of the fruits of the Amazon and Northeast regions, deserve special mention, which has aroused great interest. Among these are the bacuri (Platonia insignis Mart.), hog plum (Spondias mombin L.) and umbu (S. tuberosa Arruda Câmara). This project aims to investigate the phylogeographic patterns and demographic history of these fruit trees throughout the distribution of each species aiming to understand how anthropic activities and climatic oscillations have influenced the genetic diversity. For this, samples of bacuri will be collected in the states of Amazonas, Pará, Piauí and Maranhão; of hog plum, in the States of Amazonas, Maranhão, Pernambuco, Paraíba Alagoas and Bahia; and of umbu, in the states of Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Bahia and Minas Gerais. We will use chloroplast microsatellites (cpSSR), nuclear microsatellites (ncSSR) and new generation markers by means of DNA sequencing to obtain Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). Using data from these markers, several genetic diversity parameters will be estimated, as well as population genetic structure and phylogeographic analysis. Bayesian analysis, clustering and principal coordinate analyses will be conducted, along with phylogenetic analysis, haplotype networks, among others. Information on the diversity, genetic structure and phylogeography of these three fruit trees will provide support for the rational use of species and for the elaboration of efficient in situ and/or ex situ conservation strategies for these species, and may guide future germplasm surveys for breeding programs of bacuri, hog plum and umbu in Brazil. (AU)