Assessment Of Genetic Structure Of The Endangered Forest Species Boswellia Serrata Roxb. Population In Central India

Abstract

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