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Research Project: Integration of Traditional Methods and Novel Molecular Strategies for Improving Disease Resistance and Input-use Efficiency in Peanut

Location: National Peanut Research Laboratory

Title: Diversity and genetic structure of canistel, a tropical fruit tree native from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Author
item JIMENEZ-PARRA, JANINE - Yucatan Center For Scientific Research
item ORTIZ-GARCIA, MATILDE - Yucatan Center For Scientific Research
item CHAVEZ-PESQUEIRA, MARIANA - Yucatan Center For Scientific Research
item ANDUEZA-NOH, RUBEN - National Council Of Science And Technology (CONACYT)
item POTTER, DANIEL - University Of California, Davis
item Arias De Ares, Renee
item MARTINEZ-CASTILLO, JAIME - Yucatan Center For Scientific Research

Submitted to: Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/15/2025
Publication Date: 8/21/2025
Citation: Jimenez-Parra, J.E., Ortiz-Garcia, M.M., Chavez-Pesqueira, M., Andueza-Noh, R.H., Potter, D., Arias De Ares, R.S., Martinez-Castillo, J. 2025. Diversity and genetic structure of canistel, a tropical fruit tree native from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research. 23:e102271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102271.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102271

Interpretive Summary: In diet since the origins of humanity. Tropical regions provide refuge to a large number of these species, many of them being sub-utilized and of unknown genetic diversity. On example is canistel (Pouteria campechiana), tree native to the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico, its possible center of domestication. Cultivation and consumption of canistel by the Mayan communities in that region have dwindled. Our objective was to evaluate the genetic diversity and genetic structure of canistel using 40 trees from wild and anthropogenic habitats of the Yucatan peninsula by using microsatellites and Inter spaced sequence repeats(ISSR) markers. These molecular markers showed the presence of two main groups, with slight cluster differences depending on the marker used. At the species level, the diversity was low to moderate ( ISSR: HE = 0.19; microsatellites: HE = 0.52). An evaluation based on collection sites showed the genetic diversity was higher in wild habitats (ISSR: HE = 0.23; microsatellites: HE = 0.64) than in anthropogenic sites (ISSR: HE = 0.15; microsatellites: HE = 0.39), suggesting a possible recent genetic erosion in the anthropogenic environments or a founding effect related to domestication. This work contributes basic knowledge to the conservation of canistel.

Technical Abstract: Fruit trees have been part of human diet since the dawn of humanity. Kanist´e (Pouteria campechiana, Sapotaceae), is an underutilized fruit tree native to Mesoamerica. In the Yucatan ´ Peninsula, Mexico, its consumption and cultivation by Mayan communities have declined in recent decades, placing this species at potential risk. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the genetic diversity and structure of kanist´e within its natural distribution area and possible center of domestication. To this end, young leaves from 40 trees were collected from natural and anthropogenic environments and characterized using 18 microsatellite (SSR) markers and 167 Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) loci. Additionally, we conducted a BLAST analysis to explore potential associations between the SSR loci and phenotypic traits. Results from both molecular markers revealed two main genetic groups with substructures related to the geographical origins of individuals collected in natural vegetation. At the species level, genetic diversity was moderate (SSR: HE = 0.52 ± 0.031), but higher in the natural habitats (SSR: HE = 0.64 ± 0.032) than in anthropogenic environments (SSR: HE = 0.39 ± 0.058). While these results may indicate a good conservation status of the species in its natural range, they could also reflect the effects of genetic erosion on cultivated kanist´e, raising concerns for its long-term viability. Notably, 16 of the 18 SSR loci exhibited hits on protein-coding regions, including genes involved in regulating sugar flux and seed development. This study provides a foundation for future conservation and management strategies for kanist´e in the Yucatan Peninsula and opens new avenues for research on domestication and genetics conservation.