Analysis of genetic structure in Melia volkensii (Gurke.) populations using random amplified polymorphic DNA

Abstract

Melia volkensii (Gurke.) is a popular fast growing agroforestry tree species in the East Africa’s arid and 
semi arid lands (ASALs). The species is valued for its high quality termite resistant timber. In addition, 
its fruits are eaten by livestock thus making it the species of choice by small-scale farmers. However, 
the species has been overexploited and information on its existing gene pool is currently lacking. The 
present work was therefore carried out using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers to 
assess genetic diversity within and between populations in order to suggest appropriate conservation 
and management strategies. Eight RAPD primers generated 38 scorable polymorphic bands which were 
used to estimate genetic distances between populations and for construction of neighbour-joining 
phenograms. Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) indicated significant genetic differentiation 
between populations in the eastern and the coastal regions with 21.1%, (P < 0.0002) of the total variation 
attributed to differences between these regions. There was a clear split between populations from 
Eastern and Coastal populations of Kenya. These differences may be due to ecogeographical 
association with genetic variation and should be conserved to retain the full breadth of genetic 
variation of the species.