Genetic diversity of yam (Dioscorea spp.) landrace collections from Ethiopia using simple sequence repeat markers

• Published in: Australian Journal of Crop Science Vol. 12; no. 8; pp. 1222 - 1230
• Main Authors: Mulualem, Tewodros, Mekbib, Firew, Shimelis, Hussein, Gebre, Endale, Amelework, Beyene
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lismore, N.S.W Southern Cross Publishers 01.08.2018
• Subjects: Breeding; Crops; Food crops; Genetic polymorphisms; Genetics; Varieties; Yams
• ISSN: 1835-2693; 1835-2707
• DOI: 10.21475/ajcs.18.12.08.PNE885

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is an important root crop widely used for food, feed and industrial raw material. Knowledge on the genetic diversity present among yam genetic resources is fundamental for variety development and conservation strategies. The objectives of this study were to determine the magnitude and genetic relationship present among yam landrace collections using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and to identify genetically unique genotypes for efficient breeding and conservation. Thirty-three yam landraces collected from various regions of Ethiopia were genotyped using 10 selected polymorphic SSR markers. The markers amplified a total of 30 alleles from the population sampled, of which 80% was polymorphic. The number of alleles detected per locus ranged from 1 to 5, with a mean of 3. Number of effective alleles ranged from 1.00 to 3.57 with a mean of 1.71. Gene diversity ranged from 0.00 to 0.80 with a mean of 0.53. The mean polymorphic information content was 0.30. Genetic distance values ranged from 0.0 to 1.0, with a mean of 0.39. Analysis of molecular variance revealed that 79% of the variation detected was found within collection sites, while collection sites accounted for only 17% of the total variation. The study established the existence of considerable genetic diversity among yam landrace collections from Ethiopia. Distinct landraces such as 32/83 and 46/83 from Cluster I and 6/02, 2/87, 3/87, 45/03, 76/02, 21/02 and 34/87 from Cluster II were selected based on their highest dissimilarity index. The selected genetic resources are useful as a source of genes of novelty for yam breeding and variety development.