Genetic variation in the Afromontane tree Prunus africana, an endangered medicinal species

An understanding of the patterns of variation within and among populations of tropical trees is essential for devising optimum genetic management stra tegies for their conservation and sustainable utilization. Here, random amp lified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was used to partition variation with in and among 10 populations of the endangered Afromontane medicinal tree, P runus africana, sampled from five countries across the geographical range o f the species (Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar and Uganda). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) employed 48 RAPD markers and revealed most va riation among countries (66%, P < 0.001). However, variation among individu als within populations and among populations within Cameroon and Madagascar was also highly significant. Analysis of population product frequency data indicated Ugandan material to be more similar to populations from Cameroon than populations from Kenya and Ethiopia, while Malagash populations were most distinct. The implications of these findings for determining appropria te approaches for conservation of the species, particularly in Cameroon and Madagascar, are discussed.