Genetic diversity revealed by AFLP in three relicts of Gomortega keule (Molina) Baillon, endemic and endangered Chilean species

Abstract

Gomortega keule is an endemic woody species to Chile and the only member of the Gomortegaceae family. It is currently an endangered species and is of great scientific interest due to its small area of distribution. The aim of this research was to estimate genetic diversity of 24 individuals of G. keule selected from three isolated relict populations from the province of Concepción using AFLP (Amplified fragment length polymorphism) for future conservation issue. Sixteen combinations of primers for AFLP were tested and three combinations of them were selected as the most informative, revealing differences between individuals. These primer combinations generated 156 fragments, of which 62 % were polymorphic. The relict population with the highest percentage of polymorphisms was located in Cerro Neuque with 84.6 %, followed by Coroney and Hualqui with 59.6 and 42.3 %, respectively. The analysis of molecular variance detected 73 % variation within populations and 27 % variation amoung populations. This study supported that AFLP can be used in G. keule as a fast and reliable test to identified remaining populations of the species. Thus, this technique can be used to support ex situ or in situ conservation of G. keule.