ABSTRACT
in this study spatial autocorrelation of the allelic frequencies and the correlation between matrices of genetic and geographic distances were evaluated by the analyses of the spatial autocorrelation divergence. Genetic and spatial structure of these populations were analyzed using seven microsatellite markers containing 73 alleles. Genetic diversity and the pattern of allelic variability of Eugenia dysenterica populations were evaluated in order to provide essential information for the conservation of the species. Analysis of spatial autocorrelation was made by estimating Moran I index in four classes of geographic distances. The correlation between geographic and genetic-distance matrices (r=0.872) indicated that the geographic distances have variable spatial pattern. The correlation graph showed that the genetic divergence is ordered in space in a clinal pattern of variation. Restricted gene flow and genetic drift inside the populations suggest that the model of isolation-by-distance can be applied.
Key words
: spatial autocorrelation; cagaita tree; cerrado