Assessment of genetic diversity of Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wilde: a commercially important, but endangered, forest tree species in Western Ghats, India

Abstract

Background: Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wilde is a valuable tree used in traditional medicine against a variety of ailments. Almost all parts of the tree are used for various commercial herbal preparations. Due to overexploitation, the species is rapidly disappearing from Western Ghats where it is native and grew extensively until recently. Conservation of this important medicinal plant is therefore an urgent need. To plan effective conservation strategies, a scientific assessment of the genetic diversity and distribution is needed. Methods: Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA fingerprinting was employed and the population genetic structure of seven wild and three cultivated populations totalling 160 individuals of S. asoca in the Western Ghats region of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa for analysis. Results: Variation of 89% was observed within populations while 11% was observed among the populations of S. asoca. Gene flow (Nm) of 2.01 was observed, and 0.19 was the degree of genetic differentiation recorded. Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic average (UPGMA) cluster analysis generated a dendrogram that showed an admixture of all genotypes but with two major clusters, which was also supported by a STRUCTURE-based Bayesian model. One wild population was well, but inexplicably, differentiated from the rest. Conclusions: The study shows that there is still considerable genetic diversity existing in natural populations of S. asoca, suggesting good natural cross-pollination, giving encouraging indications that the gene pool is under no immediate threat. Any conservation strategy should utilise the observed genetic variation in the choice of planting stock for programmes of conservation, propagation and reforestation.

Review of Medicinally Important Plant Species Saraca Asoca (Roxb.)

“…Higher level of genetic diversity was found amongst studied genotypes. In a current observe, RAPDS markers were applied for DNA fingerprinting and the population genetic shape of 7 wild and three cultivated populations totaling a hundred and sixty individuals of S. asoca in the Western Ghats location of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa for evaluation (Saini et al 2018). The examine showed that big stage of genetic variety existing in herbal populations of S. asoca, suggesting true natural pass-pollination, giving encouraging indicators that the gene pool is below no immediately chance.…”

Population genetic and phytochemical dataset of Saraca asoca: A traditionally important medicinal tree

“…The banding pattern of the accessions were scored as, presence (1) or absence (0) and binary matrix was constructed [1], [5]. The number of polymorphic characters with each primer like Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) and Marker Index (MI) were recorded [1], [6]. Relationship between geographical and genetic distance and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) were carried out using GenAlEx 6.5 [7], [8].…”

Review article DNA fingerprinting in industrially important medicinal trees

“…All the SSR and AFLP markers revealed the existence of very narrow genetic base among the studied populations while RAPDs and ISSRs revealed high polymorphism, which could be attributable to the dominant nature of the markers. Recently, Saini et al (2018) studied genetic diversity in S. asoca trees in seven different forest areas and three cultivated sites located in central and north-central Western Ghats using RAPD markers. The within population variation was higher (89%) than among population diversity (11%), suggesting good natural crosspollination.…”