Bouea oppositifolia – A fast disappearing native mango genetic resource from Andamans: Morphological and molecular evidences

Abstract

Andaman is a genetically diverse hot spot of native wild mangoes. The taxon Bouea oppositifolia is an extremely rare, shy reproducing wild mango. Until recently only three reproducing individuals have been located in the South Andaman. In terms of morphological features it closely resembles to Mangifera andamanica. In this study we highlight some morphological features and molecular evidences that substantiates the uniqueness of this taxon. We deployed SSR markers to understand its genetic relatedness with M. andamanica. Sixty SSR primers were used of which about 15 were polymorphic. The study resulted in 61 SSR products of which 29 were polymorphic (47.5%). Analysis indicates that B. oppositifolia is 43% genetically similar to M. andamanica. Possibilities of conservation and domestication in B. oppositifolia are discussed.