GENETIC VARIABILITY IN Agave angustifolia Haw. AT THE SONORAN SIERRA, MÉXICO, AS DETERMINED BY AFLP MARKERS

Abstract

Genetic variability of Agave angustifolia Haw. was analyzed by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). From 28 to 30 plants obtained from three agave populations found in three counties in Sonora, México, were included. In such region this species is traditionally used for the production of “bacanora”, an alcoholic spirit. Similarity indexes ranged from 0.749 to 0.786 among populations and from 0.800 to 0.827 within populations. Average variability within populations was 0.26, and the greatest genetic distance was found within a single population (0.106 and 0.093). No overlap between individuals of different populations was observed, since the structuring value was 0.165 with 65.16 % of polymorphic loci and the total heterozygocity was 0.313 ± 0.038. The estimated variability suggests adaptation to the biotic and abiotic factors present in the Sonoran Sierra.