Tropentag, September 18 - 20, 2019 in Kassel "Filling gaps and removing traps for sustainable resources development"

Inga edulis Legume Morphology and Genetic Structure in Wild and Cultivated Populations in Amazonian Peru

¹Czech Univerzity of Life Sciences Prague, Dept. of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry in the Tropics and Subtropics, Czech Republic
²Escola Superior Agrária do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Barnco, Dept. of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, Portugal

Abstract

Inga species (Fabaceae) are important components of Neotropical forests, as well as local food source. Inga edulis is one of the most used species in the Amazon region for fruits and shade tree. To the best of our knowledge little is known about I. edulis species' genetic diversity and structure in the wild and cultivated populations. In our study it was assessed the genetic diversity and structure using 259 trees sampled in five wild and 22 cultivated I. edulis populations in three different geographical regions (Selva Central, Ucvayali and Loreto) of Amazonian Peru. Inga edulis legume length was measured to highlight differences between wild and cultivated I. edulis trees. Using microsatellite markers it was determined the genetic diversity and structure of populations using analysis of molecular variance and Bayesian analysis. The average legume length in cultivated I. edulis trees (83 cm) was significantly larger then (39 cm) legume length average in wild trees. The Loreto region cultivated I. edulis trees had the highest legume length (148 cm) and lowest allelic richness. The expected genetic diversity and the average number of alleles was higher in the wild I. edulis compared to the cultivated I. edulis populations. A loss of genetic diversity was confirmed in the I. edulis cultivated populations. The species could have been simultaneously domesticated in multiple locations, usually with local origin. The original I. edulis Amazonian germplasm should be maintained, and cultivated population new germplasm influx from the wild populations could increase genetic diversity, provided that fruit yield will not be compromised.

Keywords: Agroforestry, Amazon basin, biodiversity conservation, domestication, edible fruit, Inga

Contact Address: Alexandr Rollo, Czech Univerzity of Life Sciences Prague, Dept. of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry in the Tropics and Subtropics, Kamycka 129, 16521 Prague, Czech Republic, e-mail: rolloftz.czu.cz