Abstract

RAYA-PEREZ, J.C.; AGUIRRE-MANCILLA, C.L.; GIL-VEGA, K.  and  SIMPSON, J.. Plant domestication in Mexico: comparison of the cultivated and wild forms of Byrsonima crassifolia (Malpighiaceae). Polibotánica [online]. 2010, n.30, pp.239-256. ISSN 1405-2768.

Domesticated plants show characteristics known as domestication syndrome, which enables better utilization of the plants by humans. Plant domestication has been studied mainly in herbaceous annuals. In this work, samples of Byrsonima crassifolia trees-changunga, the wild form, and nanche, the cultivated form-were taken from the region of Uruapan, Mexico. The objective of this work was to identify genetic differences by AFLP molecular markers between these two forms. Analysis showed that both wild and cultivated forms of B. crassifolia are genetically very close to each other. Fruit characteristics of human-interest were compared, and some differences were found between the two forms, e.g., in pH, sweetness, mineral content and size. The AFLP analysis groups together the two forms of the tree with a high degree of similarity. The fruits are distinguished phenotypically from one another, but not at the molecular level. Selection pressure to supply the market may threaten the diversity present in these populations of plants, which could be a model for the screening of genes involved in traits such as sweetness and fruit size in addition to the process of domestication itself. It is recommended that collections be made for germoplasm gene banks and also that in situ conservation be promoted.

Keywords : domesticated plants; Byrsonima crassifolia; conservation; genetic similarity; fruit size; elemental composition; sweetness.

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