Abstract
Mamey sapote (Pouteria spp., Sapotaceae) is a tree fruit of economic and cultural importance in South Florida, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. This study is among the first to analyze genetic variability among cultivated selections of mamey sapote. The Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) technique was used to estimate levels of genetic diversity in the germplasm collections of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and University of Florida. Although the collections overall represent a low level of genetic diversity, higher levels of genetic diversity were found among selections from Central America. This indicates future plant collection in that region could capture greater genetic diversity. This information can be applied to the management and expansion of the germplasm collections by identifying duplicate selections, mislabeled plants, and locating geographical areas for future collection.
