Tracing the genetic base of cherimoya (Annona cherimola) commercial cultivars through AFLP analysis of diversity at the species' putative center of origin

Cherimoya is an Andean fruit whose economic importance is increasing worldwide. Loja province, in southern Ecuador, is considered to be this species' center of origin due to the presence of great morphological variation of the fruit. This study analyzes the genetic diversity in this region at the molecular level and compares it with representative cherimoya cultivars. Principal coordinate and cluster analysis separated commercial cultivars and some Loja genotypes from the majority of Loja accessions; indicating that there is a relationship between commercial cultivars and native material from Loja province; however, a different genetic pool is present in Loja that could be used in a breeding program for this species. The genetic variation among cherimoya cultivars is limited in comparison to that of material from the Loja province.