Isozyme diversity of Garcinia gummigutta (L.) N. Robson in Western Ghat region, South India

Abstract

Isozyme genetic markers are efficient tools to study genetic variations within and between populations of less known wild species as well as for studies on spatial distribution of genetic variation. A study was conducted with four important isozyme markers namely, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, esterase and superoxide dismutase in Garcinia gummigutta population collected from Western Ghats in South India. The cluster analysis of the marker bands showed that most of the population from similar geographic locations was the first one to group themselves, though a significant pattern was not noticed. The mean percentage of polymorphic loci was 52.5%. Total heterozygocity was 0.97 which is consistent with the average of tropical tree species.