Genetic diversity of "Pimenta Longa" genotypes (Piper spp., Piperaceae) of the Embrapa Acre germplasm collection

Abstract

The commonly known Pimenta longa is a commercially valuable natural resource found wild in Acre, Brazil. Specifically, three Piperaceae species with contested taxonomic status were studied, Piper hispidinervum, Piper aduncum, and Piper hispidum, to assesses the inter-and intra-specific genetic relationship of 49 Piper genotypes kept in the Pimenta longa germplasm collection at Embrapa Acre, using sixty six Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. The DNA polymorphism level detected was high (96.97%), but the marker frequencies for each species showed polymorphism levels of 79.4% for Piper hispidinervum and 5.3% for P. aduncum. The genetic similarity clustering analysis resulted in three distinct groups corresponding to Piper hispidinervum, Piper aduncum, and Piper hispidum. Four and nine characteristic RAPD markers were identified for P. hispidinervum and P. aduncum, respectively, supporting the existence of two separate species. However, six genotypes collected in Tarauacá county formed a distinct subgroup within the P. hispidinervum group and may be considered as an ecotype of this species or an intermediate between the P. hispidinervum and P. aduncum groups. More extensive sampling of both P. hispidinervum and P. aduncum populations throughout the region are needed to further establish their relation and its implication for breeding efforts.

<b>Karyotypic characterization of <i>Capsicum</i> sp. accessions

“…According to Stebbins (1958), plants with higher karyotypic symmetry than others of the same genus are evolutionarily ancestral to those that possess lower symmetry. Wadt et al (2004) reported that although most of Capsicum species are 2n = 24 and present high similarity in chromosome morphology, the genus possesses high intra-and interspecific karyotypic variability. This observation is supported by the results of the asymmetry index (AI%) among the karyotypes of the species studied in this work (Table 1), which varied from 44.68 (BGC 59) to 47.64% (BGC 21).…”

Liposomal systems as carriers for bioactive compounds

“…In this context, for example, plants from genus Piper have been investigated as a source of new natural products with potential antitumoral, antifungal, antiplasmodial, antioxidant and tripanocidal properties (da Silva et al 2014), as well as antimicrobial, antipyretic, aromatic, emetic, diuretic, hallucinogen, ornamental and insect repellent roles, among other applications (Parmar et al 1997;Wadt et al 2004;Ferreira et al 2010). Many components have been isolated from Piper plants, such as terpenes, phenylpropenoids, lignans, neolignans, steroids, benzopyrans, chalcones, flavones, other phenolic compounds and a series of alkaloids (Parmar et al 1997;Wadt et al 2004;Felipe et al 2007).…”

Phenetic Variation and Preliminary Phytochemical Screening of Piper Species in Sri Lanka

“…The genus Piper is widely distributed in the understory and secondary vegetation of tropical forests, particularly in Asia and Neotropics. They are characterized by a shrubby to sub-tree habit, thickened nodes and spicate inflorescences with minute bracteates flowers (Wadt et al, 2004).…”