Kusuma J. auteur aut IRD Couderc Marie auteur aut IRD Gérard P. R. auteur aut IRD de Navascués M. auteur aut IRD Scarcelli Nora auteur aut IRD Duminil Jérôme auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access Identifying the centres of origin of cultivated plants is important for conservation and sustainable management, since this is where these species tend to be most genetically diverse. This research seeks to determine the centre of origin and evolutionary history of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans; Myristicaceae), an emblematic spice tree species traditionally believed to originate from the Banda Islands, South Moluccas, Indonesia. We explored nutmeg's genetic diversity and structure across the Moluccas archipelago using nuclear microsatellite markers and whole plastid genome sequences. Two primary intra-specific genetic clusters were found: one in the North Moluccas (Ternate, Tidore and Bacan islands) with higher genetic diversity and another in the South Moluccas (Banda and Ambon islands), which exhibited signs of a recent bottleneck. Although the North Moluccas showed higher genetic diversity, approximate Bayesian computation analyses supported South Moluccas as the centre of origin of M. fragrans. The species migrated from South to North Moluccas during the late Pleistocene to early Holocene period and experienced a recent bottleneck in the South. These findings suggest a naturally driven distribution influenced by migration and past climate changes. Human activities have further shaped these patterns, offering insights for developing targeted conservation strategies for nutmeg based on its genetic diversity. specialized food tree species nutmeg phylogeography propagation history spice trade INDONESIE MALUKU 076 054 293 2069 20251734 [12 p.] 2026 0962-8452 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010097020 10.1098/rspb.2025.1734 0962-8452 [F B010097020] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010097020 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/2026-05/010097020.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2026-05-20 2026-05-20 fdi:010097020 fre