Evidence for important genetic differentiation between provenances of Parkia biglobosa from the Sudano-Sahelian zone of West Africa

Abstract

Parkia biglobosa is a traditional economic tree legume of considerable multipurpose importance in the sudano-sahelian region in Africa. The species grows in multiple climatic zones with precipitation ranging from 600 to 2,500 mm a year and its natural distribution extends from Senegal and Guinea in West Africa to Uganda in Central Africa. In the present paper, a range wide sample of 25 provenances of P. biglobosa was tested in Burkina Faso, West Africa at two sites; Gonse (latitude 12°25 0 N; longitude 1°20 0 W; altitude 280 m) in the north-sudanian zone and at Dinderesso (latitude 11°18 0 N; longitude 4°35 0 W; altitude 425 m) in the south-sudanian zone. Based on analysis of survival and growth traits, we provide evidence of substantial genetic differentiation between P. biglobosa populations within West Africa. Height growth was best at Gonse, while the survival rate was higher at Dinderesso (61%) compared to Gonse (35%). Links between geographical parameters and the provenances performance were significant, and interesting geographic patterns were observed. Our results point towards superior fitness of the local Burkina Faso populations, and we speculate that presence of a continuum of locally adapted populations can be a part of the explanation for the species' ability to thrive under quite different climatic conditions across West Africa. Based on the findings, we suggest recommendations for seed deployment and conservation strategies of the species in the West African Sahel. This is particularly important when considering the on-going climate change.

EFFECT OF AGROCLIMATE ON SEED AND SEEDLING TRAITS OF TREE BEAN (Parkia timoriana (DC) Merr.) IN NORTH EAST INDIA

“…Northeast India exhibited a varied agroclimatic zones having very high rainfall and potentially lesser evapotranspiration like Shillong (Perhumid) to a place having lesser rainfall with high aridity and temperature like Jiribam (Arid). Similar climatic amplitudes was reported for Parkia biglobosa in Sudano-Sahelian zone of West Africa (Quedraogo et al, 2012).…”

Genetic conservation in Parkia biglobosa (Fabaceae: Mimosoideae) - what do we know?

“…Although significant interactions between different water regimes and provenances were found, it was not possible, based on growth traits including fresh and dry weight or shoot-to-root dry weight ratios, to clearly separate provenances according to their geographic origin or to climatic parameters. A substantial genetic differentiation in growth traits and survival rate, based on the coefficient of variation among 25 provenances (13-yr old) from West and Central Africa was reported (Ouedraogo et al, 2012). Relationships between some geographical parameters (longitude, latitude) and traits (height, basal area and survival) were significant.…”

“…A high mortality rate was recorded even for local provenances, showing potential limitations in using the species for plantation. Furthermore, an assessment of these provenance trials 13 years after their establishment showed mean survival rates of 35 % and 61 % at Gonse and Dinderesso, respectively (Ouedraogo et al, 2012). Two local provenances had lower survival rates (29 % and 57 %, respectively) compared to the mean performance of all provenances in the two trials (Ouedraogo et al, 2012).…”

Improved management of fruit trees in West African parklands

“…Based on two older field trials, Ouedraogo et al (2011) show that P. biglobosa provenances differ in survival and growth. Performance of the provenances correlated with latitude, longitude and precipitation at their origin.…”