Geographic characterisation of African provenances of Faidherbia albida

Abstract

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis based on Internal Franscribed Spacers (ITS) and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) were carried out on sixteen  provenances of Faidherbia albida currently growing in a provenance trial in semi-arid Baringo district in Kenya. The objectives of the study were to: (i) determine the phylogenetic relationship among the 16 provenances in order to establish the species centre of origin, and (ii) determine the extent of genetic diversity in F. alb ida using PCR markers. ITS data did not produce any consistent regional or geographic pattern. RAPD data produced a dendrogram clearly grouping the provenances into Western, Southern and Eastern African regions. The study revealed the utility of RAPD markers in  understanding geographic variation and phylogenetic relationships among F. albida populations in Africa.

Key Words: DNA, Genetic diversity