Lenne, 1996) and to decrease damage by pests and pathogens (Cantelo & Sanford, 1984). In some crops (. rice) this is applied on a large scale to maximize yield by minimizing damage by pathogens (Zhu et al., 2000). Information on genetic diversity and population structure also assists plant breeding in the selection of parents for crossing, providing a more rational basis for expanding the gene pool, and for identifying materials that harbor genes of value for plant improvement. Furthermore, knowledge of population structure of genetic resources is necessary for the development of strategies for appropriate conservation of genetic diversity. Therefore, in recent decades a primary activity in genetic.
