DNA markers for variety identification in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.)

Summary

Simple sequence repeats (SSRs; microsatellites) are currently the favoured type of molecular marker for identifying plant germplasm. However, identifying polymorphic SSRs and then using them to distinguish closely-related varieties can be time-consuming. Polymorphic markers originating from particularly labile regions of the genome are likely to be easier to develop and also have the potential to identify markers that have higher polymorphic information contents. Genomic regions that vary in somaclonal “off-types” are a possible source of such labile regions of the genome. Thirty-seven primer pairs, developed from sequences that differed between normal and mantled somaclonal mutant oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) plants, were used in polymerase chain reactions to screen DNA from 18 varieties of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.). From the resulting polymorphisms, three primer pairs were selected which, when used in combination, could identify each of the date palm varieties, unambiguously. The polymorphic bands were isolated, sequenced, and new internal primers were designed. However, all of the amplifications using these new primers yielded only monomorphic bands, indicating that the variation among these date palm varieties lay mainly at or near the original primer sites, and that the internal sequences were conserved.     

Genetic diversity analysis in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.): a comparative assessment using ISSR and RAPD marker assays

SUMMARY

A comparative study was conducted to evaluate genetic diversity in 45 genotypes of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), including both male and female plants, employing RAPD and ISSR marker systems. The data were analysed to calculate the total number of bands, the number of polymorphic bands, the percentage polymorphism, the average number of bands per primer, the effective multiplex ratio (EMR), the polymorphic information content (PIC), the marker index (MI), and genetic similarity coefficients. The 37 RAPD and 53 ISSR primers used generated 363 and 608 scorable amplified products, respectively, of which 95.0% and 90.9% were polymorphic. The ISSR markers produced more information than the RAPD markers due to their higher EMR and MI values. Jaccard similarity values among male plants, female plants, and between all male and all female plants varied between 0.72 – 0.80. The results indicate the effectiveness of these two marker systems for demonstrating genetic relationships among date palm genotypes.     

Genetic diversity in local Tunisian pears (Pyrus communis L.) studied with SSR markers

Few records are available about local Tunisian pear cultivars characterized by low chilling requirements and adaptation to dry conditions. In this work, seven SSRs derived from apple were successfully transferred to 25 local Tunisian pear genotypes and 6 common varieties of Pyrus communis cultivated in Europe. The 7 SSRs used amplified a total of 36 fragments. All the microsatellites except one seem to amplify more than one locus in some of the genotypes studied. Only 12 different fingerprinting patterns could be distinguished among the 25 Tunisian cultivars studied indicating a high number of synonymies. The mean expected and observed heterozygosities in the 25 Tunisian cultivars analyzed averaged 0.71 indicating a high level of genetic diversity among the local Tunisian pear germplasm. These markers will be useful to optimize the conservation of this highly threatened germplasm.     

Genetic analysis of Tunisian fig (Ficus carica L.) cultivars using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers

Genetic diversity of forty fig cultivars collected from five regions in Tunisia was investigated using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). A total of 342 reproducible bands amplified with six AFLP primer combinations were obtained. The high percentage of polymorphic bands (%PB) of 97.5 and the resolving power (Rp) collective rate value of 143 were scored. In addition, the polymorphism information content (PIC) values varied from 0.61 to 0.87 with an average of 0.77. Although cluster (UPGMA) and principal components analyses indicate that the cultivars’ clustering made independently both from the geographical origin, horticultural classifications and/or from the sex of trees. In addition, the observed variation suggests considerable differentiation among fig cultivars. The present data supports the common origin of the fig cultivars. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that average Φ_ST value overall loci was 0.026, and the overall distribution pattern of molecular variation indicated that about 97.43% of the total variance was accounted by the within-region variance component. The remaining 2.5% (P < 0.001) of the variation was founded among cultivars of the prospected regions. Our results proved that AFLP markers are useful for germplasm discrimination as well as for investigation of fig patterns variation. The information may be useful to define conservation management program.     

Genetic diversity and population genetic structure of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in Iran using AFLP markers

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is one of the oldest known edible fruits. It is native to Iran and spread from Iran to other areas. In this study amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was used to detect intra- and inter-population genetic diversity of pomegranate. A group of 67 accessions belonged to 4 populations from Iran was studied using eight primer combinations. A total of 221 scorable bands were amplified, of which, 118 (54.13%) were polymorphic. Resolving power (Rp) ranged from 5.70 to 9.21, and the average of polymorphism information content (PIC) per primer pair was 0.40. According to Nei's gene diversity and allelic statistics, Isfahan population had a highest genetic diversity (H = 0.3646, I = 0.5327, N_e = 1.6467). Coefficient of gene differentiation between populations (GST) was 0.124, indicated that mainly proportion of genetic variation (87.6%), was within populations and the remaining (12.4%) of the variation was among populations that, also supported by analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA). The gene flow (Nm) varied from 0.969 to 10.404 between pair-wise populations and was 3.504 among all of the populations. The Jaccard similarity coefficient between individuals ranged from 0.26 to 0.88. The UPGMA dendrogram clustered all 67 accessions into 6 groups. In some cases accessions from same region were grouped together but in most cases, there was gene exchange. To study the genetic relationships among populations, a principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) based on Nei's genetic distances was performed. Results of this study showed that AFLP marker can be a useful tool for investigating the genetic diversity of pomegranate genotypes.     

Genetic diversity and population's structure in Tunisian strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.)

A growing interest in the use of the Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L., Ericaceae) has been recently reported for industrial, pharmaceutical and chemical fields. However, the bulk material comes from natural populations because of the lack of selection of interesting cultivars. In Tunisia, A. unedo populations are severely destroyed due to deforestation and over-collecting. The species occurs in small scattered populations decreasing progressively in size. Yet, no conservation or improvement programs are attempted to preserve and promote the potential value of this resource. In this work, we assessed the genetic diversity of nine Tunisian populations of A. unedo L. from different bioclimates, using 65 polymorphic RAPD loci. The analysis of the genetic variation within and among populations is primordial to elaborate conservation and improvement programs. A low genetic diversity within a population estimated by both Nei's (He) and Shannon's diversity (H′) indices (0.155 < He < 0.248; 0.229 < H′ < 0.364) was observed due to genetic drift and selfing. At the species level, the amount of the within population variation estimated by Shannon's index (H_POP/H_SP = 0.686) and the molecular variance (80.67%) was higher than that among populations. A moderate genetic differentiation among populations (Φ_ST = 0.193 and G_ST = 0.314) which could be attributed to the long seed distance dispersal was detected. The UPGMA dendrogram based on Φ_ST values showed three clusters each including populations without relationship to bioclimatic or geographical origin indicating that differentiation occurs at a local space scale. The in situ protection measures should be made appropriately according to a population within bioclimates. The ex situ conservation and the selection of genotypes should involve extensive collection of seeds or cuttings from the within populations rather than among them.     

Silver nitrate and 2-isopentyladenine promote somatic embryogenesis in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.)

Embryogenic callus derived from offshoot tip of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) was transferred to MS medium containing 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100 μM AgNO₃ combined with 0 or 0.5 μM 2iP. Embryogenic callus weight, number of embryos developed and embryo elongation were significantly influenced by the interaction between silver nitrate (AgNO₃) and 2iP. In the absence of 2iP, callus weight was greatest with 75 μM AgNO₃, but in the presence of 2iP omitting silver nitrate resulted in the highest callus proliferation. The number of embryos increased in response to increasing silver nitrate concentration in the absence of 2iP, but in the presence of 2iP increasing the concentration of silver nitrate gave the opposite trend. The number of resultant embryos was the highest on 25 μM AgNO₃in the presence of 0.5 μM 2iP. This treatment also caused maximum embryo elongation. The results have shown that silver nitrate promoted callus proliferation and enhanced the formation and elongation of somatic embryos of date palm. Furthermore, the action of silver nitrate was clearly modified by the addition of 2iP. Depending on the response, 2iP modification ranged from slight alteration to complete inversion of the general trend associated with increasing silver nitrate concentration. The observed stimulatory action of AgNO₃ on date palm somatic embryogenesis may contribute to improve existing regeneration systems particularly for recalcitrant date palm genotypes.     

Genetic diversity and phylogenic relationships in date-palms (Phoenix dactylifera L.) as assessed by random amplified microsatellite polymorphism markers (RAMPOs)

Random amplified microsatellite polymorphisms (RAMPOs) were used to assess genetic diversity among 30 date-palm cultivars and 10 male trees. Using 18 primers combinations, 197 bands were scored and 186 were polymorphic suggesting the high level of polymorphism among studied cultivars. Moreover, taking into account the high percentage of polymorphic bands (ppb), the resolving power (R_p) together with the polymorphism information content (PIC) scored values, all the tested primer sets contribute strongly in the discrimination of date-palm genotypes. In addition, the topology of the derived UPGMA dendrogram exhibited cultivars’ clustering made independently both from the geographical origin and/or from the sex of trees. The present data support the Mesopotamian origin of the date-palm domestication. Thus we assume that the used method is efficient to assess genetic diversity within date-palm cultivars. Data are discussed in relation with the opportunity of the RAMPO method to provide additional molecular markers suitable in the improvement of the date-palms germplasm characterisation.     

贵州地方梨品种资源遗传多样性ISSR分析

【目的】探讨贵州地方梨品种资源的亲缘关系和遗传多样性,为品种资源的开发利用、品种鉴定提供理论依据。【方法】采用ISSR标记研究48份梨品种的遗传多样性。【结果】12对ISSR引物在48个梨品种中扩增出126个位点,其中多态性位点114条,多态性比率(PPB)为90.48%;所检测品种群体具有中等程度的遗传多样性,有效等位基因数Ne为1.487 4,Nei’s的遗传多样性指数(He)为0.285 2,Shannon信息指数(I)为0.430 7。采用NTsys 2.10e软件计算种质间Jaccard遗传相似系数,48个梨品种的遗传相似性分析表明,各基因型间的Jaccard相似系数为0.484~0.952。通过非加权算术平均数聚类法(UPGMA),绘制了48个梨品种遗传关系树状图。以0.67为阈值,将48份材料分为3大类群。【结论】供试48个梨品种遗传多样性丰富,大部分的砂梨品种聚在一起,白梨品种聚在一起。研究中发现,白梨和砂梨系统品种间存在广泛的种间杂交现象,种质之间渗入程度较大,但个别品种间的聚类结果与实际情况有所出入。     

Comparative analysis of genetic diversity in Tunisian apricot germplasm using AFLP and SSR markers

Eighty-one accessions representing apricot germplasm in Tunisia were collected from different areas of cultivation and fingerprinted using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and microsatellites (SSR) markers. A total of 339 polymorphic markers were revealed using 5 AFLP primers combinations and 24 SSR loci. AFLP and SSR markers expressed a high level of polymorphism allowing the distinction of the accessions with an efficiency coefficient of discrimination of 100% for AFLP and 97% for SSR markers. Genetic diversity structure was assessed with AFLPs and SSRs markers separately then with combined matrix data by the help of hierarchical clustering elaborated using Wards method based on Nei and Li (1979) distances. Comparison of the obtained dendrograms revealed a phylogeographic structure into two major groups with significant conservation between the observed subgroups in relation with the geographic origin of the accessions. The relative efficiency of the markers in determining the genetic relationships among apricot accessions has been assessed and a combination of AFLPs and SSRs markers was the most effective. In addition, Mantel test based on genetic distances indicated highly significant correlation between AFLP-SSR data and each of the AFLP and SSR ones, with Pearson correlation values of r = 0.873 and r = 0.692, respectively, revealing the higher efficiency of the combination of both molecular techniques (AFLP and SSR) to estimate the levels of genetic variability among apricot germplasm.     

Genetic diversity of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) genotypes revealed by RAPD markers and agronomic traits

Bitter gourd or bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) is considered as minor cucurbitaceous vegetable in spite of having considerable nutritional and medicinal properties. Although some reports on genetic diversity based on morphological characterization are available, no work has been conducted to estimate genetic diversity using molecular markers in this crop. In the present study, 38 genotypes of M. charantia including few commercially cultivars collected from different parts of India based on agro-ecological zones were analysed for diversity study both at morphological and molecular levels. Genomic DNA was extracted from young healthy leaves following the procedure of Doyle and Doyle [Doyle, J.J., Doyle, J.L., 1990. A rapid DNA isolation procedure from small quantity of fresh leaf material. Phytochem. Bull. 119, 11–15]. Pair-wise comparison of genotypes was calculated as per the procedure of Jaccard [Jaccard, P., 1908. Nouvelles recherches sur la distribution florale. Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sci. Nat. 44, 223–270]. Dendrogram was constructed using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) and the computation for multivariate analysis was done using the computer programme NTSYS-pc Version 2.0 [Rohlf, F.J., 1998. NTSYS-pc Numerical Taxonomy and Multivariate Analysis System, Version 2.01. Exeter Software, Setauket, NY, USA]. Diversity based on yield related traits and molecular analysis was not in consonance with ecological distribution. Among 116 random decamer primers screened 29 were polymorphic and informative enough to analyse these genotypes. A total of 208 markers generated of which 76 (36.50%) were polymorphic and the number of bands per primer was 7.17 out of them 2.62 were polymorphic. Pair-wise genetic distance (GD) based on molecular analysis ranged from 0.07 to 0.50 suggesting a wide genetic base for the genotypes. The clustering pattern based on yield related traits and molecular variation was different.     

Genetic diversity of Dimocarpus longan in China revealed by AFLP markers and partial rbcL gene sequences

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and partial rbcL gene sequencing were used to investigate genetic diversity among various longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour) accessions as well as a presumed closely related species Dimocarpus confinis How et Ho and litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn). No significantly shared AFLP fragment was found between the three species, indicating that D. confinis and litchi are very far in genetic distance from any longan accession studied. Partial rbcL sequences of 501 bp from the first coding site in these species were obtained, which revealed several substitutes. One such DNA base pair substitute resulted in an amino acid difference between longan and litchi. Furthermore, another 4 bp resulted in a two amino acid difference between longan and D. confinis, which was consistent with AFLP results and indicated that D. confinis should be excluded from the longan genus, Dimocarpus. Within the longan species, no DNA substitute was found. Using nine primer combinations, a total of 66 AFLP markers were obtained from 41 longan accessions. One non-Chinese longan accession ‘Miaoqiao’ was distinctly different from all other longan cultivars collected in China, indicating that more genetic resources of longan might be collected also from longan production regions outside of China. AFLP markers might be developed to identify longan cultivars as well as expedite progeny screening in breeding programs of this perennial fruit tree.     

黄瓜种质资源遗传多样性及其亲缘关系的AFLP分析

 采用AFLP分子标记技术，对中国黄瓜种质资源遗传多样性及其与外来种质的关系进行了分析， 结果表明8对AFLP引物在70份黄瓜种质中共扩增出425条带，多态性带的比例为66％。供试黄瓜种质的平 均期望杂合度为0．376，中国种质的平均期望杂合度为0．387，明显高于国外种质的n 291。西双版纳黄瓜和印度野生黄瓜具有一些栽培种质没有的特异位点，中国栽培种质的特异位点多于外来栽培种质，后者也有一些中国栽培种质没有的特异位点。聚类分析将70份种质分为三大组群，即西双版纳黄瓜(Cucumis sativus L.vaF．xishuangbannanesis Qi et Yuan)组群，e sativus var．hardwickii野生黄瓜组群和栽培黄瓜组群。西双版纳黄瓜与栽培黄瓜的距离最远，与野生黄瓜次之。按一定的遗传距离可以将中国和外来栽培种质分开。大多数 华南型和华北型种质归属于不同的亚组。这些结果有助于有目的地利用这些变异拓宽育种材料的遗传背景。     

利用形态学与AFLP标记研究栽培萝卜种质亲缘关系

采用AFLP标记结合形态学指标对33份萝卜种质的遗传多样性进行评价。筛选出8对能产生稳定可重复片段的引物进行AFLP扩增,每对引物可扩增出35～56条带,平均每对引物扩增的DNA带数为45.2条,其中多态性带占总带数的42.10 %,显示出萝卜种质之间存在着较丰富的遗传多样性。基于形态学指标和AFLP标记的聚类分析均可将供试材料分为4大组,其中具有独特紫红色根肉的Rs14独为一组;其余3组的划分,两种方法聚类结果大致相同。从整体来看,萝卜种质分类与根皮色相关,大致可分为绿皮萝卜组、白皮萝卜组、红皮萝卜组。     

Origin and genetic diversity of Tunisian grapes as revealed by microsatellite markers

Ten SSR loci, previously developed for grapevine, were analyzed to evaluate the genetic variability, cultivar relatedness, and parentage in a collection of 61 autochthonous Vitis vinifera cultivars from Tunisia.The number of alleles per locus ranged from 6 to 11, while the number of genotype patterns varied between 10 and 21. The expected heterozygosity varied between 0.621 and 0.855 and the observed heterozygosity was higher than 0.9 at 4 loci (VVMD28, VVMD5, VVIP31 and VVS2) indicating that the SSRs were highly informative.Cluster analysis using unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averaging (UPGMA) suggested 14 groups among studied cultivars and 53 grapevine denominations out of 61 were unequivocally distinguished, with all accessions showing at least one-specific combination of alleles.On the other hand, in order to overcome the existing confusion in Tunisian grapevine nomenclature, of the analyzed homonymous pairs of cultivars, only ‘Balta 2’ and ‘Balta 3’ have shown identical allelic profiles, consistent with their being the same genotype. Hence, nomenclature distinction is meaningless and only one denomination should be retained.Due to the high overall power of exclusion (Q) (greater than 99.99%) and to the absence of null alleles, the set of microsatellite loci used is appropriate to determine parentage in Tunisian grapevines beyond any reasonable doubt. The analysis of fingerprints indicated that the Tunisian grape vines have evolved through out crossing between five possible parents: Balta 1, Beldi Baddar, Beldi Rafraf, Beldi Local Rafraf and Khedhiri 3.     

Genetic relatedness of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars from Ukraine determined by microsatellite markers

Microsatellite (SSR) markers were used to characterise 23 sweet cherry cultivars of Ukrainian, and four cultivars of non-Ukrainian, origin. To assess their genetic diversity and relatedness, 11 pairs of primers were applied to microsatellite loci, resulting in amplification of 66 SSR alleles. The mean value of the number of different alleles, and the polymorphic index content, amount to 7.333 and 0.700, respectively, demonstrating a significant genetic diversity of the investigated sweet cherry cultivars. Four highly polymorphic SSR loci (EMPAS02, EMPAS06, PceGA34, UDP98-412), which belong to the list recommended by the European Cooperative Program for Plant Genetic Resources, can be used as a minimum genetic marker set for identification of the majority of the studied cultivars; however, for successful discrimination of the most similar cultivars, more markers, located on all chromosomes of sweet cherry, appear to be necessary. Application of unweighted variable-group method using averages clustering allowed elucidation of the relatedness among the sweet cherry varieties, and showed that the Ukrainian cultivars combine genetic material of local, western European, and probably Caucasian origin; however, the origin of several cultivars still remains unclear, and should be studied additionally.     

新疆甜瓜地方品种（Cucumis melo L.）的SSR遗传多样性

<正>目的与意义:适应于原产地的地方品种是甜瓜种质保存和遗传改良的重要资源,详细了解这些地方品种的遗传变异对于新疆甜瓜种质资源的多样性保护和重要农艺性状的遗传改良具有重要的意义。本文利用SSR标记方法对新疆甜瓜地方品种进行遗传多样性分析,并比较新疆3个主要生态地区东疆、南疆和北疆地方品种的遗传关系,为更好     

Analysis of genetic diversity in Portuguese Ceratonia siliqua L. cultivars using RAPD and AFLP markers

Although carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is of great economic importance little is still known about the pattern of genetic variation within this species. Morphological characteristics based on 31 fruit and seeds of continuous characters determinant for agro-industrial uses, were compared with RAPD and AFLP markers for assessing genetic distances in 68 accessions of carob trees, from different cultivars, varieties and eco-geographic regions of Algarve. Eighteen selected RAPD primers applied to the 68 accessions produced a total of 235 fragments ranging from 200 to 2000 bp, of which 93 (40%) were polymorphic. Four AFLP selective primer combinations generated a total of 346 amplification fragments of which 110 were polymorphic. The average level of polymorphism based on four primer combinations was 31.8%. The phenetic trees based on RAPD and AFLP analyses gave high co-phenetic correlation values, and were found to be consistent in general with the analysis of morphological data, carried out on the same accessions. A number of RAPD and AFLP markers were found to be diagnostic for ‘Canela’ cultivar and 13 wild ungrafted trees.     

Sex-linked AFLP marker identification in dioecious Betelvine (Piper betle L.)

This study aimed to develop sex-specific AFLP markers for dioecious Piper betle (Betelvine). A combination of ulk segregant analysis (BSA) and non-radioactive labelling led to simple, rapid and reliable PCR-based screening of sex-specific markers. A total of nine primer combinations were screened using BSA for male and female cultivars. Seven out of nine primer combinations produced bands specific to either of the sex. These seven primer combinations when used for screening DNA sample from individual male and female cultivars yielded two primer combinations which produced male sex-specific markers. Primer combinations EcoRI-CTA/MseI-CTA and EcoRI-CGT/MseI-CGT produced unique fragments of ~ 147 bp and ~ 326 bp, respectively, in bulk DNA as well as in DNA sample from individual male and female cultivars. These unique fragments were present in all the tested males and absent from all the tested female cultivars.     

变叶海棠遗传多样性的AFLP分析

 用8对引物对变叶海棠30个不同的变异类型进行了AFLP分析, 共扩增出656条带, 其中多态性带为568条, 平均每对引物扩增出71条多态性带, 多态性带百分率为86.59% , 各变异类型多态性比例介于0.3582～0.6296之间; 依据简单匹配系数对AFLP扩增结果进行UPGMA聚类, 30个变异类型在0.68水平上分为12个类群; 该试验从DNA水平上探明了变叶海棠的遗传多样性是变叶海棠与陇东海棠和花叶海棠产生渗入杂交形成的。