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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Genetic structure of Bertholletia excelsa populations from the Amazon at different spatial scales

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Author(s):
Sujii, Patricia Sanae [1] ; Martins, Karina [2] ; de Oliveira Wadt, Lucia Helena [3] ; Renno Azevedo, Vania Cristina [4] ; Solferini, Vera Nisaka [1]
Total Authors: 5
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Campinas Unicamp, Inst Biol, Dept Genet Evolut & Bioagents, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil
[2] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Biol, Ctr Ciencias Humanas & Biol, Sorocaba, SP - Brazil
[3] Embrapa Acre, Rio Branco, AC - Brazil
[4] PqEB W5, Lab Genet Vegetal, Embrapa Recursos Genet & Biotecnol, Brasilia, DF - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: CONSERVATION GENETICS; v. 16, n. 4, p. 955-964, AUG 2015.
Web of Science Citations: 16
Abstract

Population genetic structure and genetic diversity levels are important issues to understand population dynamics and to guide forest management plans. The Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl.) is an endemic species, widely distributed through Amazonian upland forests and also an important species for the local extractive economy. Our aim was to analyze the genetic structure of Brazil nut trees at both fine and large scales throughout the Amazon Basin, contributing to the knowledge base on this species and to generate information to support plans for its conservation. We genotyped individuals from nine sites distributed in five regions of the Brazilian Amazon using 11 microsatellite loci. We found an excess of heterozygotes in most populations, with significant negative inbreeding coefficients (f) for five of them and the fine-scale structure, when present, was very small. These results, as a consequence of self-incompatibility, indicate that conservation plans for B. excelsa must include the maintenance of genetic diversity within populations to ensure viable amounts of seeds for both economic purposes and for the local persistence of the species. (AU)