Assessment of genetic variability in the Asoka Tree of India

Abstract

Saraca asoca (Roxb) De Wilde is an increasingly endangered and endemic medicinal plant in India. Genetic assessment is one of the important parameters for formulating conservation strategies for endangered species. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiling was employed to assess the genetic diversity of 165 individuals representing five natural populations. There was a relatively low level of genetic diversity in S. asoca at the species level but a relatively high level of genetic differentiation among populations. Limited gene flow due to human impact may be the key factor resulting in the observed genetic structure. These effects may be most pronounced in species that are self-compatible and/or have limited seed dispersal ability. As S. asoca is highly over-exploited, with small isolated populations and high genetic variation among populations, we believe that all the populations should be protected in situ free from human impact. Gene flow is very limited. Ex situ conservation is also of the utmost importance for better genetic conservation and management of S. asoca.