Assessment of genetic structure of the endangered forest species Boswellia serrata Roxb. population in central india

Abstract

10Boswellia serrata Roxb., a commercially important species for its pulp and pharmaceutical 11 properties was sampled from three locations representing its natural distribution in central 12 India for genetic characterization through 56 RAPD + 42 ISSR loci. The wood fiber 13 dimensions measured for morphometric characterization confirmed 11.36% of the variation 14 in the length and 8.75% of the variation in the width indicating its fitness for local adaptation. 15 Bayesian and non-Bayesian approach based diversity measures resulted moderate within 16 population gene diversity (0.26±0.17), Shannon's information index (0.40±0.22) and 17 panmictic heterozygosity (0.28±0.01). A high estimate for genetic differentiation measures 18 i.e. G ST (0.31), G ST -B (0.33±0.02) and θ-II (0.45) led to the distinct clusters of the sampled 19genotypes representing their regional variability due to limited gene flow and total absence of 20 natural regeneration. We report the first investigation of the species for its molecular 21 characterization emphasizing the urgent need for the genetic improvement program for the 22 In-situ/Ex-situ conservation and sustainable commercialization. 23