Analysis of Geographic Variation among Sixteen African Provenances of Faidherbia albida using PCRBased ITS And RAPD Techniques

PCR analysis based on ITS and RAPD were carried out on sixteen provenances of Faidherbia albida currently growing in a provenance trial in semi-arid Baringo district, Kenya. The objectives of the study were: 1. Determination of the phylogenetic relationship among the 16 provenances in order to establish the species centre of origin 2. Determination of extent of genetic diversity in F. albida using PCR markers. ITS data did not produce any consistent regional or geographic pattern. RAPD data produced a dendrogram clearly grouping the provenances into Western, Southern and Eastern African regions. The study revealed the utility of RAPD markers in understanding geographic variation and phylogenetic relationships among Faidherbia albida populations in Africa. Keywords: DNA, Faidherbia albida, genetic diversity, ITS, PCR, provenance, RAPD Discovery and Innovation Vol. 19 (2) 2007: pp. 108-11