Genetic variation in <i>Leucaena leucocephala</i> (Lam.) de Wit <i>(Leguminosae: Mimosoideae</i>)
Abstract
Leucaena leucocephala f(Lam.) DE Wit is a multi-purpose neotropical tree, with a long history of human use, which is now distributed pantropically. The level of genetic variability within and among24 populations of L. leucocephala has been assessed using isozyme analysis (324 plants; 12 populations)and restriction analyses (23 populations) of the chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) and nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA). In a survey of three isozyme systems (AAT; PER; PGI)multi-enzyme phenotypes were encountered such that it was possible to identify t he two subspecies of L. leucocephala and inter-population differentiation. Partitioning of phenotypic diversity within and among populations revealed that 76% of the variation resided among L. leucocephala populations. Evidence of either multiple introductions of hybridisation/introgression was found in a Haitian collection. Seven restriction fragments showed cpDNA variation and evidence for between 1 and 5 rDNA repeats per population was encountered. These results are discussed in relation to the utilization of L. leucocephala as a multi-purpose tree crop.
Citation
Harris, S.A.; Hughes, C.E.; Abbott, R.J.; Ingram, R. Genetic variation in iLeucaena leucocephalai (Lam.) de Wit i(Leguminosae: Mimosoideaei). Silvae Genetica (1994) 43 ((2-3)) 159-167.
Links
Genetic variation in <i>Leucaena leucocephala</i> (Lam.) de Wit <i>(Leguminosae: Mimosoideae</i>)