Geographic Patterns of Genetic Variation among Cacao (<i>Theobroma cacao</i> L.) Populations Based on Chloroplast Markers
The cacao tree (<i>Theobroma cacao</i> L.) is native to the Amazon basin and widely cultivated in the tropics to produce seeds, the valuable raw material for the chocolate industry. Conservation of cacao genetic resources and their availability for breeding and production programs are vi...
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/6/249 |
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| author | Helmuth Edisson Nieves-Orduña Markus Müller Konstantin V. Krutovsky Oliver Gailing |
| author_facet | Helmuth Edisson Nieves-Orduña Markus Müller Konstantin V. Krutovsky Oliver Gailing |
| author_sort | Helmuth Edisson Nieves-Orduña |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The cacao tree (<i>Theobroma cacao</i> L.) is native to the Amazon basin and widely cultivated in the tropics to produce seeds, the valuable raw material for the chocolate industry. Conservation of cacao genetic resources and their availability for breeding and production programs are vital for securing cacao supply. However, relatively little is still known about the phylogeographic structure of natural cacao populations. We studied the geographic distribution of cpDNA variation in different populations representing natural cacao stands, cacao farms in Ecuador, and breeding populations. We used six earlier published cacao chloroplast microsatellite markers to genotype 233 cacao samples. In total, 23 chloroplast haplotypes were identified. The highest variation of haplotypes was observed in western Amazonia including geographically restricted haplotypes. Two observed haplotypes were widespread across the Amazon basin suggesting long distance seed dispersal from west to east in Amazonia. Most cacao genetic groups identified earlier using nuclear SSRs are associated with specific chloroplast haplotypes. A single haplotype was common in selections representing cacao plantations in west Ecuador and reference Trinitario accessions. Our results can be used to determine the chloroplast diversity of accessions and in combination with phenotypic assessments can help to select geographically distinctive varieties for cacao breeding programs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:41:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b7c48ea7e7d346c58d63213a7eb5a89b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:41:18Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-b7c48ea7e7d346c58d63213a7eb5a89b2023-11-21T22:56:40ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182021-06-0113624910.3390/d13060249Geographic Patterns of Genetic Variation among Cacao (<i>Theobroma cacao</i> L.) Populations Based on Chloroplast MarkersHelmuth Edisson Nieves-Orduña0Markus Müller1Konstantin V. Krutovsky2Oliver Gailing3Department of Forest Genetics and Forest Tree Breeding, Georg-August University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, GermanyDepartment of Forest Genetics and Forest Tree Breeding, Georg-August University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, GermanyDepartment of Forest Genetics and Forest Tree Breeding, Georg-August University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, GermanyDepartment of Forest Genetics and Forest Tree Breeding, Georg-August University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, GermanyThe cacao tree (<i>Theobroma cacao</i> L.) is native to the Amazon basin and widely cultivated in the tropics to produce seeds, the valuable raw material for the chocolate industry. Conservation of cacao genetic resources and their availability for breeding and production programs are vital for securing cacao supply. However, relatively little is still known about the phylogeographic structure of natural cacao populations. We studied the geographic distribution of cpDNA variation in different populations representing natural cacao stands, cacao farms in Ecuador, and breeding populations. We used six earlier published cacao chloroplast microsatellite markers to genotype 233 cacao samples. In total, 23 chloroplast haplotypes were identified. The highest variation of haplotypes was observed in western Amazonia including geographically restricted haplotypes. Two observed haplotypes were widespread across the Amazon basin suggesting long distance seed dispersal from west to east in Amazonia. Most cacao genetic groups identified earlier using nuclear SSRs are associated with specific chloroplast haplotypes. A single haplotype was common in selections representing cacao plantations in west Ecuador and reference Trinitario accessions. Our results can be used to determine the chloroplast diversity of accessions and in combination with phenotypic assessments can help to select geographically distinctive varieties for cacao breeding programs.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/6/249cacaochloroplast haplotypesgeographic originchocolatecrop dispersalSSR |
| spellingShingle | Helmuth Edisson Nieves-Orduña Markus Müller Konstantin V. Krutovsky Oliver Gailing Geographic Patterns of Genetic Variation among Cacao (<i>Theobroma cacao</i> L.) Populations Based on Chloroplast Markers Diversity cacao chloroplast haplotypes geographic origin chocolate crop dispersal SSR |
| title | Geographic Patterns of Genetic Variation among Cacao (<i>Theobroma cacao</i> L.) Populations Based on Chloroplast Markers |
| title_full | Geographic Patterns of Genetic Variation among Cacao (<i>Theobroma cacao</i> L.) Populations Based on Chloroplast Markers |
| title_fullStr | Geographic Patterns of Genetic Variation among Cacao (<i>Theobroma cacao</i> L.) Populations Based on Chloroplast Markers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geographic Patterns of Genetic Variation among Cacao (<i>Theobroma cacao</i> L.) Populations Based on Chloroplast Markers |
| title_short | Geographic Patterns of Genetic Variation among Cacao (<i>Theobroma cacao</i> L.) Populations Based on Chloroplast Markers |
| title_sort | geographic patterns of genetic variation among cacao i theobroma cacao i l populations based on chloroplast markers |
| topic | cacao chloroplast haplotypes geographic origin chocolate crop dispersal SSR |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/6/249 |
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