Genetic variation of populations of Pinus oocarpa revealed by resistance gene analog polymorphism (RGAP).

Primers based on conserved motifs of plant resistance genes were used to generate multilocus molecular markers--referred to as resistance gene analog polymorphisms (RGAPs)--in Pinus oocarpa subsp. oocarpa. Ten populations from three regions of Nicaragua were analyzed with 53 RGAPs. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of within- and between-population diversity with this kind of marker, and to compare estimates with previously obtained results based on RAPD and AFLP. All populations showed high levels of diversity. GST values and the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed most variation to be within populations, although significant differences between populations and regions were also detected. This pattern of genetic diversity was similar to that obtained for RAPD and AFLP, which suggests that variation at RGAP loci as detected in this work is mostly influence by non-selective forces.