Genetic Differentiation and Population Structure of Threatened Prunus africana Kalm. in Western Cameroon Using Molecular Markers

Justine G Nzweundji,Ulrike Huewe,Néhémie T Donfagsiteli,Nicolas Niemenak,Klaus Eimert

doi:10.3390/d12120446

Abstract

Genetic diversity of species is an important baseline for the domestication process. In Cameroon, Prunus africana, an important and threatened medicinal tree, is among the priority species for domestication. The bark extract has been used to treat various diseases; mainly benign prostatic hyperplasia which affects men above the age of 50. As little is known about the genetic diversity of P. africana in Cameroon, we aimed to determine the genetic diversity and differentiation of several P. africana populations in the western provinces, using sets of chloroplast DNA markers and nuclear microsatellites previously developed for Prunus species. Genetic diversity in the observed populations was considerable and genetic differentiation between populations proved substantial with 21% of the total observed variation detected among populations, revealing a distinct genetic structure among certain populations. However, the lack of correlation between genetic and geographic distances does not support isolation by distance (IBD). The analysis of chloroplast DNA haplotypes revealed no strong phylogeographic component in the genetic structure observed in the western populations of P. africana in Cameroon. The outcome of this study will contribute to improve the genetic characterization of P. africana for its better domestication and conservation in the Cameroon agroforestry system.

Highlights

Prunus africana (Hook. f.) Kalkman, of the Rosaceae family, is a multipurpose tree species that grows in Afromontane forests and whose barks have been used for traditional healing for hundreds of years [1,2,3]
Prunus africana leaves were sampled from local trees in February to early March 2018 in three regions of Cameroon where P. africana is native with the help of forest officers and farmers in the indicated rural areas
Leaves of P. africana were harvested in the South-West Region at Ekona (SW), in the Littoral Region at Koupe-Manengouba (LT), and in the North-West Region at Oku (NW)

Summary

Introduction

Prunus africana (Hook. f.) Kalkman, of the Rosaceae family, is a multipurpose tree species that grows in Afromontane forests and whose barks have been used for traditional healing for hundreds of years [1,2,3]. F.) Kalkman, of the Rosaceae family, is a multipurpose tree species that grows in Afromontane forests and whose barks have been used for traditional healing for hundreds of years [1,2,3]. These barks have been used for generations in African traditional medicine to address prostatic hyperplasia that affects 50% of men above the age of 50. The global demand for P. africana bark is estimated at 4000 t per year for a value of finished goods estimated at USD 220 million [6].

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