Genetic Structure in Populations of Euterpe precatoria Mart. in the Brazilian Amazon

Euterpe precatoria is a palm tree belonging to the Arecaceae family, occurring in Western and Central Brazilian Amazonia. Its fruit, which very appreciated Amazon region, produces pulp that consumed fresh form. production carried out almost exclusively by extractive farmers. In order establish adequate strategies sustain this genetic resource, we need knowledge about diversity structure natural populations. This study aimed evaluate influence of geographic distance on main populations E. Amazon. Leaves from 377 plants were collected 19 located 16 municipalities State Amazonas three Rondônia. Twelve microsatellite loci used genotype plants. The among estimated. average number alleles per locus was 5.97. observed heterozygosity means ( H O ) higher than expected E at population level = 0.72, 0.66) fixation index f -0.100) negative. F ST value (0.1820) AMOVA results Φ 0.1796) showed structure. clustered into groups K 3) Bayesian analysis. Discriminant Analysis Principal Components (DAPC) confirmed eight clusters, with close those identified differentiation groupings obtained Structure analysis DACP function. Information related phenotypic, environmental characterization important guide conservation management formulation public species policies