GENETIC RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN AVOCADO (Persea americana Mill.) IN SEVEN MUNICIPALITIES OF CENTRAL VERACRUZ, USING MICROSATELLITE MARKERS

Abstract

Mexico is the main producer and consumer of avocado worldwide. The eco-topographic conditions of the Central zone of Veracruz state and natural distribution of the Persea genus, make this area an important genetic pool of avocado. Due to the high degree of hybridization present on this species, evaluation of genetic relationships allows taxa differentiation, and identification of promising material for genetic improvement programs. The objective was to use microsatellites to analyse Persea americana genetic relationships in the Central area of Veracruz State. Forty four foliar samples from trees of seven localities were analysed; the DNA was extracted and amplified using microsatellite primers. Data were analyzed with PopGene 3.2 program. All localities were polymorphic, and although genetic differentiation was low, the dendrogram showed two groups defined by altitude, climate and soil characteristics.