Vitellaria paradoxa (C.F.Gaertn.) is a multi-purpose tree species distributed in a narrow band across sub-Saharan Africa. The species is integrated into cropping and agroforestry systems as a nutritional and economic resource, which provides a range of environmental services. Integration of the species into land-use systems provides an essential source of livelihoods and income for local populations. The economic potential of the shea butter tree derives from its edible products, which also serve cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. To understand the current state of knowledge about V. paradoxa, this paper summarizes information about the ecology, population structure, and genetic diversity of the species, also considering compositional variation in the pulp and kernels, management practices, and efforts towards its domestication. Despite the great potential of the shea butter tree, there are some gaps in the understanding of the genetics of the species. This review presents up-to-date information related to the species for further domestication and breeding purposes.

Myanmar is well known as a primary center of plant genetic resources for rice. A considerable number of genetic diversity studies have been conducted in Myanmar using various DNA markers. However, this is the first report using DArTseq technology for exploring the genetic diversity of Myanmar rice. In our study, two ultra-high-throughput diversity array technology markers were employed to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of local rice varieties in the Ayeyarwady delta, the major region of rice cultivation. The study was performed using 117 rice genotypes with 7643 SNP and 4064 silicoDArT markers derived from the DArT platform. Genetic variance among the genotypes ranged from 0 to 0.753 in SNPs, and from 0.001 to 0.954 in silicoDArT. Two distinct population groups were identified from SNP data analysis. Cluster analysis with both markers clearly separated traditional Pawsan varieties and modern high-yielding varieties. A significant divergence was found between populations according to the Fst values (0.737) obtained from the analysis of molecular variance, which revealed 74% genetic variation at the population level. These findings support rice researchers in identifying useful DNA polymorphisms in genes and pinpointing specific genes conferring desirable phenotypic traits for further genome-wide association studies and parental selection for recombination breeding to enhance rice varietal development and release.

Camu-camu [Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) McVaugh] is currently an important and promising fruit species grown in the Peruvian Amazon, as well as in Brazil, Colombia, and Bolivia. The species is valued for its high content of fruit-based vitamin C. Large plantations have been established only in the last two decades, and a substantial part of the production is still obtained by collecting fruits from the wild. Domestication of the species is at an early stage; most farmers cultivate the plants without any breeding, or only through a simple mass selection process. The main objective of the study was to characterize morphological and genetic variation within and among cultivated and natural populations of camu-camu in the Peruvian Amazon. In total, we sampled 13 populations: ten wild in the Iquitos region, and three cultivated in the Pucallpa region in the Peruvian Amazon. To assess the genetic diversity using seven microsatellite loci, we analyzed samples from ten individual trees per each population (n = 126). Morphological data was collected from five trees from each population (n = 65). The analysis did not reveal statistically significant differences for most of the morphological descriptors. For wild and cultivated populations, the observed heterozygosity was 0.347 and 0.404 (expected 0.516 and 0.506), and the fixation index was 0.328 and 0.200, respectively. Wild populations could be divided into two groups according to the UPGMA and STRUCTURE analysis. In cultivated populations, their approximate origin was determined. Our findings indicate a high genetic diversity among the populations, but also a high degree of inbreeding within the populations. This can be explained by either the isolation of these populations from each other or the low number of individuals in some populations. This high level of genetic diversity can be explored for the selection of superior individuals for further breeding.

Sorghum is one of the most important cereal crop and ranks fifth among cereals after wheat, rice, maize and barley for economic importance. Because the demand of food is increasing, sorghum will increase in importance as a source of food, feed, fibre, and fuel; specially in the European continent where sorghum is little cultivated, mainly due to the lack of sorghum varieties well adapted to the soil and climate conditions such as photoperiod, cold and drought; for this reason, the genetic diversity analysis, through molecular characterization, is an important requirement to begin a plant breeding program. The analysis was performed in 46 sorghum genotypes obtained from the Czech Plant Gene Bank, Crop Research Institute, Prague. Genetic variability values were estimated, through the genetic distance using Dice’s coefficient, and dendrogram constructed using DARwing software. Four out of fifteen of the primers evaluated were completely polymorphic (100%), A hundred and twenty-six scorable bands were identified and 89% of them were polymorphic, the bands ranged from 200 to 2000 bp. The dendrogram grouped the accession into six clusters. The results indicate the existence of high genetic distance values up to 0.8776 among the evaluated accessions, even if the accessions were collected in the same country, or by the contrary, lower genetic diversity among accessions collected in different countries. It may be due to the existence of five ancient races of sorghum, from which were originated most of the wild and cultivated species known nowadays. Mainly, the migration of people from the origin centre of sorghum, located in Ethiopia and Sudan, explain the spread of the genetic material out of Africa. The information generated by this study should be useful for a better understanding of the genetic diversity from the sorghum germplasm stored in the Czech Plant Gene Bank for future plant breeding program.

Research Highlights: This study assesses the genetic diversity and structure of the ice-cream-bean (Inga edulis Mart.; Fabaceae) in wild and cultivated populations from the Peruvian Amazon. This research also highlights the importance of protecting the biodiversity of the forest in the Peruvian Amazon, to preserve the genetic resources of species and allow further genetic improvement. Background and Objectives: Ice-cream-bean is one of the most commonly used species in the Amazon region for its fruits and for shading protection of other species (e.g., cocoa and coffee plantations). Comprehensive studies about the impact of domestication on this species’ genetic diversity are needed, to find the best conservation and improvement strategies. Materials and Methods: In the current study, the genetic structure and diversity were assessed by genotyping 259 trees, sampled in five wild and 22 cultivated I. edulis populations in the Peruvian Amazon, with microsatellite markers. Pod length was measured in wild and cultivated trees. Results: The average pod length in cultivated trees was significantly higher than that in wild trees. The expected genetic diversity and the average number of alleles was higher in the wild compared to the cultivated populations; thus, a loss of genetic diversity was confirmed in the cultivated populations. The cultivated trees in the Loreto region had the highest pod length and lowest allelic richness; nevertheless, the wild populations’ genetic structure was not clearly differentiated (significantly different) from that of the cultivated populations. Conclusions: A loss of genetic diversity was confirmed in the cultivated populations. The species could have been simultaneously domesticated in multiple locations, usually from local origin. The original I. edulis Amazonian germplasm should be maintained. Cultivated populations’ new germplasm influx from wild populations should be undertaken to increase genetic diversity.