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- Molecular diversity of coconut (Cocos nucifera Linn.) and its in situ...
Molecular diversity of coconut (Cocos nucifera Linn.) and its in situ conservation in Southern Tagalog, Philippines
Thesis Abstract:
The genetic diversity and identification of distinct coconut populations in Southern Tagalog are important information toward its efficient utilization and conservation. Molecular characterization by either inverse sequence-tagged repeats (ISTR) or sequence-tagged microsatellites (STMS) of palms from selected localities in the region exhibited an exceptionally high proportion of palm diversity (>90%) and high heterozygosity values of palms within sites. However, a low proportion of diversity among localities (<6%) was observed indicating that the distribution of variation was even among the sites evaluated.
Differentiations of populations among sites were uncovered such that seven were identified, namely: those from San Miguel (Mauban, Quezon), Banjo West (Tanauan, Batangas), Gangahin (Pitogo, Quezon), Novaliches (Liliw, Laguna), Santiago (Sto. Tomas, Batangas), Piis (Lukban, Quezon), and Tinurik (Tanauan, Batangas). The Tinurik population was invariant from the reference population, Laguna Tall, sampled from the Quezon Agricultural Experiment Station (QAEX) of the Department of Agriculture in Lagalag (Tiaong, Quezon).
The close relationship between the Tinurik and Laguna Tall population was supported by the UPGMA cluster analysis. The narrow Nei’s genetic distances among the various populations showed that they were very much related although more markers or more informative loci are needed to substantiate the relative strengths of the generated groupings. The genetic distances were not significantly correlated with geographic distances, Euclidean distances of rainfall, temperature, and edaphic characters.
The ‘level of conservation’ on-farm was considered moderate in Barangays Tinurik and Novaliches, which was characterized by the common partial replacement of felled palms. The level in Baragay Gangahin was adjudged low indicative of prevalent palm felling with its non-replacement.
The type/s of palms present, the preferred source of seed nuts, and their molecular diversity defined the palm diversity in an area. Income from the coconut plantation was negatively correlated to its conservation, while demographic characteristics such as age, sex, civil status, educational attainment, and type of farmers (owners and non-owners) were not significantly associated with it. Farmers who bestowed values on the coconut, which were positively correlated to its conservation, had the proper disposition to conserve it in situ.
Coco-based farming system was a positive indicator of coconut conservation in situ. The need for coconut as a base crop in the farm allowed its conservation even if the ‘income from coconut’ itself did not provide the necessary economic incentive for the farmer.
It was established that Novaliches exhibited adequate potential to undertake in situ conservation while Barangays Gangahin and Tinurik rated poorly, in consideration of the distance of the community to the trading center, the value of agricultural land in the locality, and the level of diversity of the population.