Genetic variation and structure in the neotropical tree, Manilkara zapota (L) P. Royen (Sapotaceae) used by the ancient Maya

Manilkara zapota is a tropical tree species that was used by the ancient Maya in construction of their temples and as a source for fruit. Although this has been supported by ethnographic and paleoethnobotanical data, we used genetic approaches to estimate variation and structure in modern populations of this neotropical tree species to discern if genetic patterns were consistent with earlier influences of ancient Maya management or if they could be explained by the natural history of the species. Nine microsatellite markers, consisting of seven novel markers and two markers identified in a related species, were used to characterize the genetic diversity and population genetic structure in three populations of M. zapota collected from reforested, historically urbanized ancient Maya ceremonial centers in Guatemala and Belize, from home gardens in Guatemala, and from a number of cultivars. Levels of genetic variation were slightly higher in forest populations (H O = 0.447) than in gardens ...

人心果（Manilkara zapota）是一种热带树种，古玛雅人曾将其用于神庙建造，同时其果实也是食物来源之一。尽管民族志与古植物考古学数据已为该说法提供了佐证，但本研究采用遗传学研究方法，对这一新热带树种的现代种群的遗传变异与群体结构展开评估，以此甄别其遗传模式究竟与古玛雅先民的早期经营管理存在关联，还是可由该物种自身的自然演化历史予以解释。本研究选用9个微卫星标记（microsatellite marker），其中包含7个全新开发的标记，以及2个从近缘物种中鉴定得到的标记，对3个人心果（M. zapota）种群的遗传多样性与群体遗传结构进行表征：这些种群分别采自危地马拉与伯利兹境内曾作为古玛雅仪式中心、历经历史城市化改造后又完成重新造林的区域、危地马拉的家庭菜园，以及多个栽培品种。造林地种群的遗传变异水平（观测杂合度H_O=0.447）略高于菜园种群……