About This Project

Annona purpurea is a culturally important fruit tree in Mesoamerica. This project asks how incipient domestication has shaped genetic diversity, population structure, morphological variation, and connectivity between wild and cultivated populations. We hypothesize that cultivated populations will exhibit morphological differentiation but limited genetic divergence due to ongoing gene flow with wild populations. Results will support conservation of genetic and biocultural diversity.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Domestication is an evolutionary process driven by human management that alters genetic diversity, population structure, gene flow, and morphological variation in plant populations, ultimately shaping their evolutionary trajectories. Understanding these processes is particularly important under current climate change scenarios, as genetic diversity underpins the adaptive potential of species and the resilience of human-managed ecosystems. However, the evolutionary consequences of domestication remain poorly understood for many native fruit trees of Mesoamerica, especially those subjected to incipient management. This project investigates genetic and morphological variation across wild and cultivated populations of Annona purpurea. We hypothesize that domestication effects will vary geographically with management intensity, producing greater morphological differentiation than genetic divergence because of ongoing gene flow with wild populations

What is the significance of this project?

The significance of this project lies in its potential to advance our understanding of contemporary evolutionary processes in Mesoamerican native trees by using Annona purpurea as a model system. Unlike intensively selected crops, A. purpurea exhibits incipient, heterogeneous domestication driven by traditional human management. By analyzing this species across its geographical distribution, this project offers a unique opportunity to evaluate how varying management practices, from wild forests to traditional homegardens, influence genetic structure, gene flow, and morphological variation. Ultimately, this research provides a crucial theoretical bridge for understanding evolutionary dynamics at the interface between wild and managed landscapes, while generating vital data to support the conservation of an underutilized resource with deep cultural, medicinal, and ecological value.

What are the goals of the project?

This project aims to understand the effects of domestication on the genetic diversity and morphological variation of Annona purpurea, a culturally and nutritionally significant native fruit tree in Mesoamerica. By sampling approximately 30 wild and cultivated populations spanning a gradient of management intensity, the project will evaluate human-driven changes using fruit size (length and width) and weight measurements, as well as hundreds of nuclear markers developed for Annonaceae. Specifically, this research will identify patterns of genetic diversity, population structure, gene flow, and morphological differentiation associated with varying degrees of domestication. Ultimately, the results will provide key insights to conserve the species' genetic resources and associated biocultural heritage, contributing to sustainable management strategies under climate change scenarios.