Diversity and phylogenetic analysis in Cocos nucifera L. in Mexico

Abstract

The diversity and phylogenetic analysis in 22 populations of Mexican coconut and six imported populations, were estimated using 15 enzymatic systems and the allele frequencies in: peroxidase (PER), endopeptidase (ENP), and glucose 6-Phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). There was very low polymorphism, not more than two alleles per locus. The Wright fixation indexes F(it) = 0.62, F(is) = 0.40, and F(st) = 0.36 indicated low total heterosygosity and low heterosygosity within populations suggesting endogamy and genetic drift, and a high diversity among populations due to differentiation between Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coastal populations. The phylogenetic tree with values for genetic distance, indicated three groups on the Pacific coast related to Rennell Tall and Polynesian Tall, and two groups on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, one related to West African Tall and another related to Mexican Pacific coast populations. This corroborates historical antecedents and morphological and physiological patterns. The Dwarf coconuts related to the Pacific Tall populations, Rennell Tall and Polynesian Tall. There was no difference between local and imported Dwarf populations.