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Genetic differentiation and diversity of Adansonia digitata L (baobab) in Malawi using microsatellite markers

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Abstract

Baobab (Adansonia digitata L) belonging to Bombacaceae family, is one of the most widely used indigenous priority tree species in sub-Saharan Africa, valued in the cosmetic industry for its seed oil, and powdery fruit pulp for juice making. Baobab has high potential for domestication in southern Africa, therefore understanding its genetic diversity and population structuring is warranted. The study investigated the level of genetic diversity and differentiation of five populations of A. digitata L. sampled from four diverse silvicultural zones in Malawi. Variation at nine microsatellite loci were examined in 150 individual trees. Low mean genetic diversity was expressed through genetic diversity indices: Nei’s genetic diversity (h, 0.18 ± 0.03), Shannon Information Index (I, 0.21 ± 0.07), observed number of alleles (na, 1.47 ± 0.10), effective number of alleles (ne, 1.23 ± 0.04) and percentage polymorphic loci (pp, 48 %). The low genetic variation found is attributed to the population growing in marginal areas of genetic centre of diversity of the species, anthropogenic factors and founder effects. Moderate genetic differentiation was observed among populations (Gst = 0.13) indicating the presence of a large number of common alleles resulting in a homogenisation effect. Clustering of individual trees by genetic similarity coefficients indicated that mainland trees were genetically closer than the trees on Likoma Island. Mantel’s test showed a weak positive insignificant correlation (Z = 0.12; P = 0.64) between genetic distance among populations and actual distance on the ground implying that geneflow was not directly influenced by isolation by distance. The results suggest that seed distribution and tree improvement should recognise the presence of ecotypes and conservation measures should protect all the populations due to existence of private alleles which are of adaptive importance.

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Acknowledgments

The study was co-financed by Mzuzu University and Stellenbosch University. Special thanks go to Mr. Y. Kazembe and Miss E Aquaron of Molecular Biology and Ecology Research Unit (MBERU), Department of Biological Sciences, Chancellor College, University of Malawi for helping during the extraction of DNA. Mr. S. Kamowa of Mzuzu University is thanked for active participation in field work. Lastly, we thank Pretoria University for hosting the first author at the time of writing the article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mzuzu University, Private Bag 1, Luwinga, Mzuzu, Malawi

    C. R. Y. Munthali

  2. Pretoria University, Lynwood Road, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa

    P. W. Chirwa

  3. Chancellor College, University of Malawi, P.O. Box 280, Zomba, Malawi

    W. J. Changadeya

  4. World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Southern Africa Regional Programme, Chitedze Agricultural Research Station, P.O. Box 30798, Lilongwe, 3, Malawi

    F. K. Akinnifesi

  5. Department of Forest and Wood Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

    C. R. Y. Munthali

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  1. C. R. Y. Munthali
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  2. P. W. Chirwa
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  3. W. J. Changadeya
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  4. F. K. Akinnifesi
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Correspondence to C. R. Y. Munthali.

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Munthali, C.R.Y., Chirwa, P.W., Changadeya, W.J. et al. Genetic differentiation and diversity of Adansonia digitata L (baobab) in Malawi using microsatellite markers. Agroforest Syst 87, 117–130 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-012-9528-2

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