Applied phylogeography of Cyclopia intermedia (Fabaceae) highlights the need for 'duty of care' when cultivating honeybush.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The current cultivation and plant breeding of Honeybush tea (produced from members of Cyclopia Vent.) do not consider the genetic diversity nor structuring of wild populations. Thus, wild populations may be at risk of genetic contamination if cultivated plants are grown in the same landscape. Here, we investigate the spatial distribution of genetic diversity within Cyclopia intermedia E. Mey.-this species is widespread and endemic in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) and used in the production of Honeybush tea.

Methods

We applied High Resolution Melt analysis (HRM), with confirmation Sanger sequencing, to screen two non-coding chloroplast DNA regions (two fragments from the atpI-aptH intergenic spacer and one from the ndhA intron)

SUBMITTER: Galuszynski NC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7474521 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature