Genetic variability and effective population size in Hymenaea stigonocarpa (Fabaceae) germplasm collection: tools for breeding programs and genetic conservation

The conservation of plant genetic resources is essential for breeding programs. Regarding the native species of the Brazilian Cerrado biome, many studies have demonstrated their high potential for use in both medicines and foods. Hymenaea stigonocarpa, a tree with wide occurrence in the Cerrado, has economic importance, and due its extractive use, the establishment of a breeding program is relevant for sustainable use and conservation. Thus, the first germplasm collection of the species was installed at the Federal University of Goias (UFG). To know the magnitude of genetic variability and how it was distributed in the collection, 353 individuals, distributed in 119 families from 24 subpopulations collected in the Cerrado biome, were genotyped using capillary electrophoresis. Nine pairs of microsatellite markers were genotyped. The UFG germplasm collection showed a high level of genetic diversity (mean $$\bar{H}e$$ = 0.554) at the evaluated loci. By Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA), a significant genetic structure was detected (θP = 0.152, p