HIGH DIVERSITY AND LOW GENETIC STRUCTURE OF REMNANTS FROM HANCORNIA SPECIOSA GOMES IN TWO SAVANIC FORMATIONS OF THE CERRADO BIOME IN THE STATE PARK OF SERRA DE CALDAS NOVAS - GOIÁS.

Human actions over Cerrado biomes have been causing decline of several natural species. To assist in strategies that can mitigate the deterioration of biodiversity, it is necessary to understand how the genetic diversity of native species is maintained under natural conditions, particularly in protected areas. This work aimed to evaluate the diversity and genetic structure of two groups of Hancornia speciosa Gomes separated in two savanna formations of the Cerrado inside the State Park of Caldas Novas, Goiás. A sample was collected consisting of 45 individuals, 19 originated from the Cerrado Rupestre and 26 from the Cerrado Típico. Some genetic parameters were calculated using 21 microsatellite markers. Both groups showed high values of genetic diversity, observed heterozygosity and low values of inbreeding. The genetic differentiation between them was extremely low, ratifying the clusters inferred from genotypes of both groups observed in the UPGMA and PCoA cluster analysis, which did not correspond with the physical location of the samples. From the analysis made with STRUCTURE, a value of ∆K = 3 was obtained, even though there were no genetically separated groups, but a high proportion of mixture of three gene pools among all individuals. In this way, it was demonstrated, for the first time, a weak genetic structure between two groups of mangabeira geographically close but located in two different savanna formations of the Cerrado within PESCAN. These results are relevant for the development of management strategies and conservation of the genetic diversity of natural mangabeira remnants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]