Population genetic structure in Solanum lycocarpum A. St.-Hil. (Solanaceae), between natural and disturbed population, estimated by marker isozymes

Abstract

The Wolf Apple (Solanum lycocarpum A. St .- Hil.) is a characteristic species of the Brazilian Cerrado. It is widely distributed and occurs in the highest densities in areas disturbed by human influence. It easily occupies roadsides where individuals may act as stepping stones favoring the genetic connectivity among populations. Based on this, the present study aimed to understand the genetic structure in populations of S. lycocarpum to establish whether gene flow is occurring among populations. We studied two populations using seven allozyme loci. The results indicated no inbreeding within populations but genetic divergence was significant (8%). This results show a tendency toward genetic isolation of populations and highlights the negative effect of fragmentation on populations of S. lycocarpum. The Brazilian Cerrado had come under intense process of the devastation, and the threat of genetic erosion detected in S. lycocparpum, can be occurring too in the other native species in the Cerrado biome.