Genetic structure of coexisting wild and managed agave populations: implications for the evolution of plants under domestication.

ABSTRACT: Domestication is a continuous evolutionary process guided by humans. This process leads to divergence in characteristics such as behaviour, morphology or genetics, between wild and managed populations. Agaves have been important resources for Mesoamerican peoples since prehistory. Some species are domesticated and others vary in degree of domestication. Agave inaequidens Koch is used in central Mexico to produce mescal, and a management gradient from gathered wild and silvicultural populations, as well as cultivated plantations, has been documented. Significant morphological differences were reported among wild and managed populations, and a high phenotypic variation in cultivated populations composed of plants from different populations. We evaluated levels of genetic diversity and struct

SUBMITTER: Figueredo CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4641209 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature