Genetic diversity, spatial genetic structure, mating system and gene flow in jenipapo (Genipa americana Linnaeus) using microssatellite markers

Studies about ecology and population genetics are essential to understand the effects of fragmentation on forest species. A study based on quantitative genetics and microsatellite markers was conducted to investigate the genetic diversity, spatial genetic structure, mating system and pollen dispersal in a natural population and onan progenies test of Genipa americana L. aiming conservation and breeding. Samples were collected in two populations: the first located in the northeast of Brazil, in a transition area between the Atlantic Forest and Caatinga (POP-SE) and the second in the southeast, in an Active Germplasm Bank established in area transition between the Atlantic represented by Forest Semideciduous and the Cerrado (POPSP). Leaf tissues were collected from 30 seed-trees and 20 plants/progeny in each of the populations. The analysis of the mating system were performed based on the mixed mating model and correlated crosses model. As expected in dioecious species, all offspring were originated from outcrossing ( m t = 1). The mating among relatives rate ( m s t t ) and paternity correlation ( p r ) were variable among families ( m s t t = 0.03-0.19; p r = 0.04-0.40), especially in NP. Fixation index ( F ) was generally significant lower in the adults than offspring, indicating selection against inbreed individuals. The paternity correlation within fruits (0.40) was higher than among fruits (0.26), indicating that lower effective number of pollen donors ( ep N ) within fruit (2.5) than among fruits (3.8). Due to the highest p r in NP, the effective size within families ( e N ) was lower in NP (2.69) than PT (3.27). The Spearman ranking correlation showed that the increase in ep N increase the genetic diversity and e N within families. The pollen dispersal pattern was strongly leptokurtic, suggesting long pollen dispersal distance (mean= 179 m). The results show the genetic variability among individuals and indicate the suitability of the same for conservation in-situ, seed collection for genebanks in training, as well as the recovery of degraded areas and future programs of breeding in transition areas between different biomes. (AU)