Ony Rakotondralambo is actually preparing a pHD thesis at the University of Antananarivo entitled "Centella asiatica (L.) Urban: biology, genetic diversity, conservation and exploitation management in Madagascar." Thanks to a collaboration between UMR-Agap research teams Structure and evolution of genomes (SEG), Evaluation, management and use of genetic resources (EGV) and Data integration (ID), Cirad DP of Antananarivo and the University of Antananarivo, we publish new insights into the biology, genetics and evolution of Centella asiatica.

Basically, the wild populations of Centella asiatica of Madagascar are either diploid (2n =2x = 18) ortetraploid (2n =4x= 36). The presence of two chlorotypes in Madagascar suggest an ancient origin of this polyploidy and at least two distinct funding populations. We examine the genetic diversity through SSR analysis and conclude that C. asiatica from Madagascar diverse and clearly separated from the Indian and south African genotypes. The active compound  content (Triterpenic glycoside) is also highly variable between populations. Implications of these results for sustainable production and set up breeding programms  are discussed.