Maqui (Aristotelia chilensis [Molina] Stuntz) is a dioecious small tree native to Chile and southwestern Argentina. This species has gained attention due to its high polyphenol content and anti-oxidant capacity. Nevertheless, genetics studies and information about A. chilensis population genetics are scarce and even contradictory. In fact, the available species-specific simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers are not informative at all, and so we decided to identify and characterize new ones able to trace individual genotypes, a basic tool intended for different genetic studies. We identified and characterized 15 new polymorphic SSR markers for A. chilensis. These markers were evaluated in three populations distributed along 1000 km of Central Chile, exhibiting up to 10 alleles per locus and a combined expected heterozygosity of 0.858. Markers were also informative in two related species, Aristotelia peduncularis (Labill.) Hook. f. and Crinodendron patagua Molina (Elaeocarpaceae), with 13 and six SSRs showing clear amplification patterns, respectively. This new set of SSR markers are highly polymorphic and informative, being the first ones available for the effective fingerprinting of maqui genotypes. A proof of concept of that was the differentiation of six maqui accessions that are under domestication for productive purposes, based on a subset of the polymorphic SSR markers.

Maqui (Aristotelia chilensis [Molina] Stuntz) is a small endemic Patagonian tree that is currently being domesticated actively because of its edible berries, which have extremely high polyphenol content and anti-oxidant capability. Maqui can be easily propagated and is an e cient colonizer of deforested habitats to the point of often becoming an invasive species. However, little is known about its population structure and evolutionary history, limiting the design of conservation and domestication strategies. Genetic diversity of 14 populations (183 samples) from throughout the geographic distribution of the species in Chile was assessed with 13 polymorphic microsatellite markers. Samples were assigned to clusters based on Bayesian genetic and spatial structure analyses and the results were used to reconstruct patterns of phylogeographic and demographic history. We found that maqui populations are well-structured, with a dramatic reduction of genetic diversity from north to south, most notably in areas that were covered by ice during the quaternary glaciation. Three main genetic groups were revealed by Structure analysis. In conclusion, a clear pattern of genetic diversity reduction from its northern limit in central Chile to the Patagonian region was revealed, suggesting that an active recolonization process took place during the last few millennia following the last glacial period. These results will help to de ne the identi cation of accessions from different regions and contribute to support conservation and domestication initiatives.

Maqui (Aristotelia chilensis [Molina] Stuntz) is a small endemic Patagonian tree that is currently being domesticated actively because of its edible berries, which have extremely high polyphenol content and anti-oxidant capability. Maqui can be easily propagated and is an efficient colonizer of deforested habitats to the point of often becoming an invasive species. However, little is known about its population structure and evolutionary history, limiting the design of conservation and domestication strategies. Genetic diversity of 14 populations (183 samples) from throughout the geographic distribution of the species in Chile was assessed with 13 polymorphic microsatellite markers. Samples were assigned to clusters based on Bayesian genetic and spatial structure analyses and the results were used to reconstruct patterns of phylogeographic and demographic history. We found that maqui populations are well-structured, with a dramatic reduction of genetic diversity from north to south, most notably in areas that were covered by ice during the quaternary glaciation. Three main genetic groups were revealed by Structure analysis. In conclusion, a clear pattern of genetic diversity reduction from its northern limit in central Chile to the Patagonian region was revealed, suggesting that an active recolonization process took place during the last few millennia following the last glacial period. These results will help to define the identification of accessions from different regions and contribute to support conservation and domestication initiatives.