Genetic diversity of Manihot esculenta Crantz cultivars in Nicaragua assessed with microsatellite (SSR)

Abstract

A total of 37 cassava cultivars from Nicaragua were evaluated using microsatellite marker to reveal the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship with improved cultivars, aiming to ensure a sustainable management of genetic resources of the country. The genetic diversity analyses were obtained from data of nine microsatellite markers. A total of 47 alleles were detected. The number of alleles varied from a range of three to nine. The index of genetic diversity was high with 0.61. The average value of the mean PIC was 0.60, showing that the most informative and polymorphic markers were GA-131, SSRY-100 and GA 12. The variance molecular analysis showed major difference within groups and low difference among groups. The largest genetic distance, determined among groups was found between population of Matagalpa and Río San Juan cassava accessions. South Atlantic Autonomous Region and introduced accessions presented the shortest genetic distance. while the population of Río San Juan and Leon showed the highest genetic identity. Analysis of the main components showed difference and duplicity among individual into cassava accessions collected. Key words: accession, alleles, cassava, locus.