Full Length Research Paper

Phylogenic analysis in Acacia senegal using AFLP molecular markers across the Gum Arabic Belt in Sudan

Rami Sirelkhatem and Eisa E. l. Gaali*

Commission for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, National Center for Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 2404; Khartoum, Sudan.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: elgaali@hotmail.com. Tel.: +249-83-466373.

Fax: +249-183-770701.

Accepted 24 August, 2009

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) DNA markers were used to characterize the genetic diversity and relationships in gum Arabic tree (Acacia senegal). Twenty eight samples of Acacia senegal collected from populations distributed throughout the Gum Arabic belt were tested in comparison with samples of Acacia mellifera and Acacia leata. Nine AFLP selective primer pair combinations generated a total of 433 amplification products with an average of 89.18% detected polymorphisms. Accessions showed the least variation was found within the A. senegal accessions in contrast with mellifera and Acacia leata that presented the highest degree of polymorphism number. According to the cluster analysis two main clusters were obtained in which A. mellifera and A. leata were placed in a separate group. There were eight subgroups of A. Senegal. Three of the eight subgroups of A. senegal were clustered according to geographical origin. The variation within population might be correlated with abiotic factors of the environment.

Key words: AFLP marker, gum arabic, Acacia senegal, Acacia mellifera, Acacia leata, polymorphism.