Abstract:
The mating system in plant populations is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Proper
estimates of the outcrosing rates are often required for planning breeding programmes, conservation
and management of tropical trees. However, although Moringa oleifera is adapted to a mixed mating
system, the proportion of selfing has not been previously estimated. The current work therefore, shows
the use of AFLP markers in a mating system study of M. oleifera seed orchard. Data revealed a mixed
mating system with a multilocus outcrossing rate (tm) of 0.74. It further demonstrated that AFLP
markers, though dominant with a lower information content than co-dominant markers are adequate for
the study of the mating system in plant populations. The 26% selfing observed in M. oleifera can lead to
overestimation of the proportion of additive genetic variance and appropriate adjustments are therefore
required. However, the presence of selfing as well as early sexual maturity (6 months to 1 year) in M.
oleifera provides an opportunity for developing inbred lines and hybridisation. Additionally, in
designing M. oleifera seed orchards, randomisation and minimum distance between related individuals
need to be worked out to maximise cross-fertilisation among unrelated clones and minimise selfing or
mating among related ramets.
