Genetic diversity among the six varieties of Acacia caven (Leguminosae, Mimosoideae) evaluated at the molecular and phenotypic levels

CAROLINA L. POMETTI; JUAN C. VILARDI; ANA M. CIALDELLA; BEATRIZ O. SAIDMAN

PLANT SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION

Springer

Lugar: Viena; Año: 2010 vol. 284 p. 187 - 199

0378-2697

The existence of six varieties of Acacia cavenhas been established on the basis of differences in fruitmorphology. Taking into account the controversial evidenceprovided by morphology, molecular markers mightbe a useful tool for evaluation of genetic differentiationamong varieties of A. caven. Given this fact, we conducteda parallel analysis of genetic and phenotypic diversityamong and within six varieties of A. caven with theobjective of determining whether the varieties described onmorphological grounds represent genetically differentiatedentities. Distinction of the six varieties was examined usingmorphological and random amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD) markers. RAPD data were analyzed with basicdescriptive genetic statistics, by hierarchical genetic analysis,and by discriminant analysis. Morphological datawere studied by means of univariate, multivariate, anddiscriminant analysis. The results from analysis of variancecomponents for morphological data are in concordancewith those from molecular markers, because most of thevariance is found within populations. The results, obtainedhere from molecular markers, support the taxonomic differentiationof the six varieties studied.