Paper Details

AFLP- based genetic diversity assessment among Cucumis melo var. agrestis genotypes in southern Caspian coastline

Fatemeh Vafadar Shamasbi, Ali Dehestani, Saber Golkari, Ali Pakdin

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/4.12.54-61

Int. J. Biosci. 4(12), 54-61. June, 2014. (PDF)

Abstract:

Genetic diversity of indigenous plant population is the prerequisite for any research on plant breeding and improvement, making genetic diversity conservation of critical importance. Genetic diversity of 17 wild melon (Cucumis melo var. agrestis) genotypes in southern Caspian Sea region was evaluated using AFLP markers. 386 out of 564 studied primers amplified a total of bands, out of which (68.4%) were polymorphic. The average number of bands per primer was 56.4, while an average number of 38.6 were estimated for polymorphic bands. The mean polymorphic information content (PIC) was estimated to be 0.221, while the highest and lowest PICs of 0.288 and 0161 were recorded for M-GAG, E-CCA and M-GAG, E-CCA primers, respectively. Marker index (MI) values were calculated as 15.51. The principle coordinate (PCoA) of the markers revealed that the first three components accounted for 63.5% of the total variance indicating the markers distribution throughout the genome is mostly non-random. Cluster analysis based on Jaccard similarity index and UPGMA algorithm showed a high variation within the studied genotypes and a mean similarity index of 0.65 was calculated for AFLP markers. Ghaemshahr and Juybar wild melon genotypes showed the highest similarity (0.76) while the least similarity was observed between Tonekabon and Livan wild melon (0.55). The Relatively high genetic diversity observed may be attributed to several factors e.g. nature of melon reproduction (cross-pollination), high differentiation ability of AFLP markers and existence of several undistinguished subspecies.