Author : Namia, Ma. Teresa I.

Summary : The genetic diversity and identification of distinct coconut populations in Southern Tagalog are important information toward its efficient utilization and conservation. Molecular characterization by either inverse sequence-tagged repeats (ISTR) or sequence-tagged microsatellites (STMS) of palms from selected localities in the region exhibited an exceptionally high proportion of palm diversity (>90%) and high heterozygosity values of palms within sites. However, a low proportion of diversity among localities (<6%) was observed indicating that the distribution of variation was quite even among the sites evaluated. Differentiation of populations among sites was uncovered such that 7 were identified namely those from San Miguel (Mauban Quezon), Banjo West (Tanauan Batangas), Gangahin (Pitogo Quezon), Novaliches (Liliw Laguna), Santiago (Sto. Tomas Batangas), Piis (Lukban Quezon) and from Tinurik (Tanauan Batangas). The Tinurik population was invariant from the reference population Laguna Tall sampled from the Quezon Agricultural Experiment Station (QAEX) of the Department of Agriculture in Lagalag (Tiaong Quezon). Coco-based farming system is a positive indicator of coconut conservation in situ. The need for coconut as a base crop in the farm allows its conservation even if the 'income from coconut' itself does not provide the necessary economic incentive for the farmer. It was established that Novaliches exhibited adequate potential to undertake in situ conservation while Barangay Gangahin and Tinurik rated poorly, in consideration of the distance of the community to the trading center, the value of the agricultural land in the locality and the level of diversity of the population.