Genetic diversity of anchote (Coccinia abyssinica (Lam.) Cogn.) from Ethiopia as revealed by ISSR markers

Anchote (Coccinia abyssinica) is plant endemic in Ethiopia with a high calcium content grown for its edible tuberous roots. In spite of its importance as food security crop, there is no information available on molecular genetic diversity of this crop. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess genetic diversity within and among 12 populations of anchote using ISSR markers. Using nine ISSR primers, a total of 87 scorable bands was generated of which 74 were polymorphic. Within population diversity based on polymorphic bands ranged from 13.8 to 43.53 % with a mean of 33.05 %, Nei’s genetic diversity of 0.04–0.156 with a mean of 0.12, Shannon information index of 0.07–0.23 with a mean of 0.175 and analysis of molecular variation (AMOVA) of 51.4 % were detected. With all diversity parameters, the highest diversity was obtained from Gimbi, Bedele and Ale populations, whilst the lowest was from Manna. AMOVA showed a 48.56 % between populations variability and significantly lower than that of within population variation. Population differentiation with F_ST was 48.56 %. From Jaccard’s pairwise similarity coefficient, Decha and Nedjo were most related populations exhibiting 0.76 similarity and Manna and Nedjo were the most distantly related populations with similarity of 0.52. The only pentanucliotide primer used in the study, Primer 880 (GGAGA)3, showed a unique band in some individuals that appeared to be associated with morphological quantitative traits (lowest seed number, high protein content, largest fruit size and smallest vine length). Illubabor and Gimbi populations exhibited highest genetic diversity so that the populations should be considered as the primary sites in designing conservation areas for this crop.