The genus Astrocaryum (Palmae) in Amazonia:: Classical taxonomy and DNA analysis (AFLP)

A preliminary analysis of DNA variation in the palm genus Astrocaryum has been made in order to evaluate how it fits the classification at morphological level, particularly in terms of the partitioning of the global genetic diversity and levels of divergence, Initial results show that the amplification fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique allows analysis of molecular diversity at the supraspecific as well as at the interspecific and infraspecific levels. In most cases, these results conform to the morphological interpretations. The traditional classification of the genus in two subgen era, Pleiogynanthus (without sections) and Monogynanthus (with two sections Munbaca and Ayri), is discussed. DNA analysis reveals that part of section Ayri should be considered as a fourth main subdivision of the genus with closer affinity to Pleiogynanthus and Munbaca cl than with other species of Ari. On the other hand, the coefficient of similarity for molecular data appears to be as low between the species of section Ayri as between the species of the other groups.