AFLP markers for analysis of genetic diversity and structure of teak (<i>Tectona grandis</i>) in India

Abstract

Five amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) primer combinations (E-AAC × M-CAT, E-AAC × M-CTG, E-ACA × M-CTC, E-ACA × M-CTA, and E-ACC × M-CTA) were employed for analysis of genetic diversity, differentiation, and structure of 96 genotypes of teak (Tectona grandis L. f.) from 10 natural locations in India. The analysis of the AFLP marker data by both versions, i.e., G ST and θ, of F statistics showed a similar trend due to the outcrossing nature of teak. The primer combination E-AAC × M-CAT detected maximum polymorphism in the teak genome. The analysis of molecular variance assigned a large proportion of the genetic diversity to within sampled locations and a very small proportion to among locations. The population genetic structure resolved by the neighbor joining tree, principal coordinate analysis, and no-admixture and admixture model Bayesian-based analyses irrefutably revealed two distinct centers of teak diversity, i.e., central India and peninsular India. Furthermore, the very high proportion of genetic diversity residing within locations encourages the intensive selection and (or) collection of diverse superior genotypes (elite trees) from each location for the conservation of germplasm and the genetic improvement of teak.