Allozyme Variation in 16 Natural Populations of Faidherbia Albida (Del.) A. Chev

The objectives of this study were (1) to investigate the genetic variability; and (2) to determine the phylogenetic relationship in the leguminous tree Faidherbia albida through out its range of distribution in East, West and Southern Africa. A total of 16 populations were subjected to enzyme electrophoresis and 6 enzyme systems (Adh, Mdh, G6pdh, Idh, 6Pgdh, and α‐Est) encoded by 12 loci were scored. A total of fifty one different alleles were detected, with an average of 2.5 alleles per locus. Forty three percent of the loci were polymorphic at a 95% criterion. The average expected heterozygosity (gene diversity index He) was 0.141. All provenances showed significant deviation from Hardy‐Weinberg expectation. The UPGMA cluster analysis, based on Modified Rogers distance revealed close similarities between Eastern and Southern African provenances, except Debre zeit from Ethiopia, which was closest to West African populations than to the East African populations. Also, Bignona from West Africa was peculiarly closer to East African provenances. Differentiation of West African populations from Eastern and Southern African provenances was quite evident, emphasising the clinal pattern of variation in these two major geographical races of F. albida in Africa. Wright's F‐statistics showed an overall significant deficit of heterozygotes, a common feature in mixed mating, entomophilous, widespread species such as F. albida. The dendrogram analysis showed wide separation among the three Ethiopian provenances indicating a high level of genetic differentiation and diversity among them.