Analysis of Genetic Diversity in Colonial Bentgrass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrostis capillaris</Emphasis> L.) using Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Markers

Colonial bentgrass (Agrostis capillaris L.) is a cool-season grass, native to temperate Asia and Europe. It has good tolerance to low temperatures and partial shade and is well suited to golf course fairways and tees. Little information is available regarding levels and patterns of genetic variation among populations of colonial bentgrass, which would be useful for breeding programs. To study the genetic relationships among 27 colonial bentgrass accessions obtained from the US National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS), randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were scored and analyzed. Out of 80 primers screened, 16 were selected for further analysis, which yielded a total of 120 polymorphic bands used to differentiate the accessions. Dice's similarity coefficients for pair-wise comparisons ranged from 0.23 to 0.84 based on the RAPD data. Since there was no similarity coefficient value close to 1 between any two accessions, there was no apparent duplication among the sampled accessions. A dendrogram constructed on the basis of the Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic average (UPGMA) clustering algorithm clearly separated 26 of the accessions into three clusters with one accession distinct from the rest. The least similar pair of accessions was PI 204397 from Turkey and PI 628720 from Bulgaria, and the most similar pair was PI 509437 from Romania and PI 491264 from Finland. Clustering patterns based on principal components analysis (PCA) corresponded well with the dendrogram. A high cophenetic correlation (r = 0.82) was found between the RAPD data matrix and cophenetic matrix. The accession PI 628720, from Bulgaria, did not cluster with any other accessions.     

Genetic diversity of 38 spinach (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Spinacia oleracea</Emphasis> L.) germplasm accessions and 10 commercial hybrids assessed by TRAP markers

Target region amplification polymorphism (TRAP) markers were used to assess genetic variability among 38 germplasm accessions and 10 commercial hybrids of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), an economically important leafy vegetable crop in many countries. Germplasm accessions with different geographic origins and 10 commercial hybrids were examined. For assessing genetic diversity within accessions, DNA was extracted from 12 individual seedlings from six germplasm accessions and two hybrids. A relatively high level of polymorphism was found within accessions based on 59 polymorphic TRAP markers generated from one fixed primer derived from the Arabidopsis-like telomere repeat sequence and two arbitrary primers. For evaluating interaccession variability, DNA was extracted from a bulk of six to 13 seedlings of each accession. Of the 492 fragments amplified by 12 primer combinations, 96 (19.5%) were polymorphic and discriminated the 48 accessions from each other. The average pair-wise genetic similarity coefficient (Dice) was 57.5% with a range from 23.2 to 85.3%. A dendrogram indicated that the genetic relationships among the accessions were not highly associated with the geographic locations in which the germplasms were collected. The seven commercial hybrids were grouped in three separate clusters, suggesting that the phenotype-based breeding activities tended to reduce the genetic variability. This preliminary study demonstrated that TRAP markers are effective for fingerprinting and evaluating genetic variability among spinach germplasms. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the US Department of Agriculture. The U.S. Government's right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty-free license in and to any copyright is acknowledged.     

Identification of duplicates and fingerprinting of primary and secondary wild annual <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cicer</Emphasis> gene pools using AFLP markers

Wild annual Cicer gene pools contain valuable germplasm for chickpea improvement programs. Previous research showed that duplication might exist in accessions collected from these gene pools, which would hinder chickpea breeding and related research. AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) markers were used to fingerprint the world collections of the primary and secondary gene pools including C. reticulatum Lad., C. bijugum K.H. Rech., C. judaicum Boiss. and C. pinnatifidum Jaub. et Sp. Duplicates were detected in a total of 24 accessions in both the gene pools, highlighting the necessity to fingerprint the germplasm. Genotypic difference was detected as gene pool specific, species specific and accession specific AFLP markers. These were developed into fingerprinting keys for accession identification between and within species and gene pools. Use of AFLP markers to detect duplicates and to identify accessions is a reliable method which will assist in the characterisation and use of wild annual Cicer germplasm in chickpea improvement programs. We recommend the procedure presented in this paper as a standard approach for the precise genetic identification and characterisation of future world collections of wild Cicer, to keep germplasm integrity and to benefit chickpea breeding and related research programs.     

Characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prosopis cineraria</Emphasis> (L.) Druce germplasm with suitable horticultural traits from the hot arid region of Rajasthan,India

Sixteen germplasm accessions of Prosopis cineraria with suitable horticultural traits were identified from north-western Rajasthan, India, propagated clonally by budding on seedling rootstock and maintained in the field gene bank. Morphological characterization of seven-year-old trees of these accessions by 21 traits indicated a lot of variation among the accessions tested. Higher number of flowers per raceme was found in accession CIAH/K2, higher width of ripened pod in CIAH/K5, higher number of seeds per pod in CIAH/K12 and a higher weight of seed per pod in CIAH/K6. Overall, CIAH/K16 was found to be a superior genotype for most of the useful traits. High significant positive correlation was obtained with traits useful for horticultural values. Out of 62 random decamer primers for random amplification (RAPD) reaction, and four minisatellite core sequence for direct amplification of minisatellite DNA (DAMD) screened with these accessions, 12 RAPD and 2 DAMD primers were found polymorphic. Average polymorphism resolved by these markers among the accessions was 93.2%. Genetic diversity revealed by Jaccard’s co-efficient was between 0.11 and 0.77, and four major clusters were identified among these accessions by phylogenetic analysis using NTSYSpc-2.02e software. This study shows the existence of high genetic diversity within these accessions.     

Use of random amplified DNA markers to analyse genetic variability and relationships of Coffea species

Summary The use of random amplified DNA fragments as genetic markers in Coffea was investigated. Arbitrary oligonucleotides were used as primers to amplify genomic DNA of different coffee accessions representing major Coffea species by polymerase chain reaction. Intraspecific variation was easily detected in C. canephora and C. liberica whereas the primers assayed failed to reveal polymorphism between C. arabica accessions. Extensive interspecific variation was observed. Genetic relationships between Coffea species are deduced from the degrees of similarity in amplified product profiles. Random amplified DNA markers appeared to be of high value for characterization, analysis and utilization of coffee genetic resources.     

Relationships Among <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> (L.) Germplasm from Spain and Great Britain as Determined by RAPD Markers

The genetic diversity and the relationships among a collection of Brassica napus L. European populations were evaluated using random amplified polymorphic DNA markers. The study included 33 accessions of B. napus collected from Galicia (northwestern Spain) and 18 British cultivars, 16 accessions of B. napus and two accessions of Brassica oleracea L. used as controls. DNA from 25 individuals per population was analyzed using 18 decamer primers. One hundred thirty-eight amplification products were scored of which 105 were polymorphic. These bands ranged in size from 350 to 2500 base pairs. Similarity coefficients and cluster analysis were computed and six groups were obtained. Cluster I was the largest and included all the landraces from northwestern Spain, except two accessions that grouped separately into Clusters III and IV, respectively. A low level of genetic variability was detected among the B. napus Spanish genotypes, while considerable diversity was present among the British ones, which grouped into three groups, two main clusters and one group formed by one accession. Cluster II included all commercial varieties grown in Great Britain whereas Cluster V grouped local varieties maintained by the growers for many years. Cluster VI was a singularity formed by one entry. British accessions of B. oleracea had the greatest dissimilarity with all the other populations and grouped separately in Clusters VII and VIII. As conclusion, B. napus landraces used in northwestern Spain as leafy-green vegetable probably have an independent origin from B. napus crops grown in other European regions. Besides, separate domestication in northwestern Spain and Great Britain for a different end use might have led to two distinct gene pools.     

PCR Marker-based Analysis of Wild and Cultivated Yams (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dioscorea</Emphasis> spp.) in Nigeria: Genetic Relationships and Implications for <Emphasis Type="Italic">ex situ</Emphasis> Conservation

Reliable characterization of the variation among wild and cultivated yams in Nigeria is essential for improved management and efficient utilization of yam genetic resources. RAPD and double stringency PCR (DS-PCR) analyses were used to investigate genetic relationships and the extent of redundancy among 30 accessions of two cultivated, and 35 accessions of four wild yam species collected from Nigeria. Twenty-five selected random decamer and two microsatellite primers were used individually and in combination to generate DNA profiles for each accession of the six Dioscorea species. The number of amplified fragments varied from 7 to 18 fragments per primer/primer combination. Different levels of intraspecific genetic diversity were found, with Dioscorea rotundata Poir. being the most variable. Based on identical profiles for the RAPD and DS-PCR primers, 12 duplication groups consisting of a total number of 37 accessions were observed in the present study. An UPGMA analysis grouped the majority of plants according to the species. Cultivated yams belonging to the D. cayenensis–rotundata species complex, which were classified into seven morphotypes/varietal groups, could be clearly separated into two major groups corresponding to D. rotundata Poir. and D. cayenensis Lam. D. cayenensis cultivars exhibited a low level of intraspecific variation and were genetically close to the wild species Dioscorea burkilliana J. Miège. D. rotundata cultivars classified into six varietal groups showed a high degree of DNA polymorphism and were separated into two major groups that appeared most closely related to Dioscorea praehensilis Benth. and Dioscorea liebrechtsiana de Wild. We propose, based on these results, that cultivars classified into D. cayenensis should be considered as a taxon separate from D. rotundata. The implications of intraspecific variability for the ex situ conservation of wild and cultivated yam germplasm in Nigeria are discussed.     

Genetic diversity among <Emphasis Type="Italic">Jatropha</Emphasis> species as revealed by RAPD markers

The genus Jatropha is native of tropical America with more than 200 species that are widely distributed in tropics with a promise for use as an oil crop for biodiesel. This investigation was carried out to assess the genetic diversity of 12 Jatropha species based on random amplified polymorphic DNA markers. From 26 random primers used, 18 primers gave reproducible amplification banding patterns of 112 polymorphic bands out of 134 bands scored accounting for 80.2% polymorphism across the genotypes. Three primers viz., OPA 4, OPF 11, and OPD 14 generated 100% polymorphic patterns. The polymorphic information content was highest for the primer OPD 14 (0.50) followed by the primers OPF 11 and OPAD 11 (0.48). Jaccard’s coefficient of similarity varied from 0.00 to 0.85, indicative of high level of genetic variation among the genotypes studied. UPGMA cluster analysis indicated three distinct clusters, one comprising all accessions of J. curcas L., while second included six species viz., J. ramanadensis Ramam., J. gossypiifolia L., J. podagrica Hook., J. tanjorensis J. L. Ellis et Saroja J. villosa Wight and J. integerrima Jacq. J. glandulifera Roxb. remained distinct and formed third cluster indicating its higher genetic distinctness from other species. The overall grouping pattern of clustering corresponds well with principal component analysis confirming patterns of genetic diversity observed among the species. The result provides valid guidelines for collection, conservation and characterization of Jatropha genetic resources.     

Genetic diversity in Sorghum bicolor(L.) Moench accessions from different ecogeographical regions in Malawi assessed with RAPDs

Genetic variation within and among several Sorghum populations from different agroecological zones in Malawi were investigated using random amplified polymorphic markers (RAPDs). DNA samples from individual plants were analyzed using 35 oligonucleotides of random sequence. Twenty five of these primers allowed amplifications of random polymorphic (RAPD) loci. Overall, 52% of the scored loci were polymorphic. Every accession was genetically distinct. The analysis of molecular variance revealed that the within-region (among accessions) variations accounted for 96.43% of the total molecular variance. Observed variations in allelic frequency was not related to agroecological differences. The degree of band sharing was used to evaluate genetic distance between accessions and to construct a phylogenetic tree. Further analysis revealed that the sorghum accessions analyzed were genetically close despite considerable phenotypic diversity within and among them. It is suggested that all the sorghum landraces currently available in Malawi should be conserved both ex situ and in situ to maintain the current level of genetic diversity.     

Genetic diversity of Swiss maize (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L. ssp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">mays</Emphasis>) assessed with individuals and bulks on agarose gels

About 65 years ago, more than 150 Swiss maize landraces (Zea mays L. ssp. mays) of the flint type were collected and conserved ex situ. Due to the climatically and culturally diverse environment of the Alps, a considerable genetic diversity of this material was assumed. To prove this, an efficient method was required to carry out genetic profiling of all the accessions in the Swiss Gene Bank. Simple sequence repeat marker (SSR) profiling in combination with the visualization of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products on agarose gels was chosen. Here a set of 19 different landrace accessions was analyzed to: (i) investigate their genetic diversity, (ii) investigate and display the population structure and (iii) determine whether DNA bulks rather than single plants can be used for such analyses. Four repeated samples of one accession were found to be much closer to one another than to the rest of accessions. Furthermore, specific alleles were identified for several accessions. The PCR products of the bulked DNA samples represented only a small part of the variation revealed by the analysis of individuals. Loci with four base repeat motifs performed better in the analysis of bulks than loci with other repeat motifs. The correlation between genetic distance matrices, based on the analysis of individuals and bulks, respectively, was significant. Thus, the single plant approach allowed for sufficient differentiation of accessions, and DNA bulks visualized on agarose gels led to correlated genetic distances although a limited number of alleles were detected. Although the limited resolution of agarose gels likely causes some bias, profiling of larger sets with the individual plant approach appears feasible and more informative compared to the bulk analysis we conducted.     

Genetic Characterization of Brazilian Annual <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arachis</Emphasis> Species from Sections <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arachis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Heteranthae</Emphasis> using RAPD Markers

The genus Arachis is divided into nine taxonomic sections. Section Arachis is composed of annual and perennial species, while section Heteranthae has only annual species. The objective of this study was to investigate the genetic relationships among 15 Brazilian annual accessions from Arachis and Heteranthae using RAPD markers. Twenty-seven primers were tested, of which nine produced unique fingerprintings for all the accessions studied. A total of 88 polymorphic fragments were scored and the number of fragments per primer varied from 6 to 17 with a mean of 9.8. Two specific markers were identified for species with 2n = 18 chromosomes. The phenogram derived from the RAPD data corroborated the morphological classification. The bootstrap analysis divided the genotypes into two significant clusters. The first cluster contained all the section Arachis species, and the accessions within it were grouped based upon the presence or absence of the ‘A’ pair and the number of chromosomes. The second cluster grouped all accessions belonging to section Heteranthae.     

Genetic diversity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nelumbo</Emphasis> accessions revealed by RAPD

Total 65 lotus accessions in genus Nelumbo mainly collected from China, were subjected to random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers to estimate the genetic diversity and to test the genetic basis of the relationships between morphotypes and molecular markers. Seventeen primers generated a total of 195 highly reproducible and discernible loci, among which 173 were polymorphic. Percent polymorphism varied from 66.7 to 100 with an average of 88.72, and five primers out of them, OPC05, OPG10, OPN20, OPP09 and OPS17, showed 100% polymorphism. A relatively high genetic diversity was detected among all the samples with the similarity coefficient values ranging from 0.45 to 0.85, and Nei’s gene diversity (h) 0.30, and Shannon index (I) 0.46. The UPGMA dendrogram clustered 65 accessions in four clusters and the clustering pattern showed two groups, N. nucifera ssp. nucifera and those accessions related to the American lotus, and some special cultivars, landraces, hybrids and the American lotus. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCA) further indicated that the genetic diversity of Nelumbo accessions was not evenly distributed, instead, was presented by a clustered distribution pattern. Similar to the results revealed by the dendrogram, two main groups representing the two subspecies of N. nucifera, as well as some special landraces, cultivars of Chinese lotus, the Japanese lotus and hybrids out of the two groups were obtained. Neither the UPGMA dendrogram nor the PCA analysis exhibited strict relationship with geographic distribution and morphotypes among the accessions.     

Genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships among Indian Citrus taxa revealed by DAMD-PCR markers

Genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships among 50 wild and cultivated accessions of 19 Indian Citrus genotypes were examined through comparison of Directed Amplification of Minisatellite DNA (DAMD) markers and morphological characters. DAMD-PCR analysis with four primers resulted in amplification of a total of 45 bands, of which 35 (78 %) were polymorphic. Morphometric evaluation using 76 morphological characters showed high level of variability ranging from 0.18 to 1.00 (avg 0.39), whereas the Jaccard’s coefficient values of genetic similarity calculated from DAMD data ranged from 0.41 to 1.00 (avg 0.68), indicating moderate genetic divergence among the accessions studied. UPGMA dendrograms generated separately from morphometric and DAMD data segregated all the accessions of Citrus into four main clusters, each containing a true basic species and their probable hybrids. The grouping of individual accessions/genotypes under respective species or cultivars in DAMD dendrogram was based purely on their genetic relationships rather than geographical origin. There was no absolute congruence between the data and dendrograms generated from morphometric and DAMD analyses. The study demonstrates the resolving power of DAMD markers for discrimination of individual genotypes of Citrus under its respective species, hybrid or cultivar groups and inferring their genetic and phylogenetic relationships as well. This is the first report on application of DAMD markers in Citrus.     

Measurement of nuclear DNA content of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trifolium</Emphasis> L. as a measure of genebank accession identity

The collection, identification and maintenance of genebank accessions of the genus Trifolium is a major task because of the large number of genera and their occasional morphological similarity. We investigated whether the measurement of nuclear DNA content can serve as an additional criterion for identification of mislabeled accessions. Relative nuclear DNA content was determined by flow cytometry measurements for a total of 151 genebank accessions of 23 Trifolium species with notable agronomical value. Among 23 species analyzed, 15 were found to possess a uniform relative nuclear DNA content, with intraspecific variability of the majority of analyzed species lower than 5%. Within six Trifolium species, 1–2 atypical accessions with outstanding differences in relative DNA content, chromosome number and morphological features were found. In T. hybridum and partially in T. ambiguum these outstanding differences could be ascribed to variations in accession ploidy level. For the remaining atypical accessions, the determined nuclear DNA content, chromosome number and morphological features were not related to those characteristic of the species. Additionally taxonomic identity of atypical accessions was determined using ITS region sequencing and morphological observations. We propose flow cytometric measurements of nuclear DNA content as simple and reliable technique which can be used at seedling stage to verify identity and genetic stability of Trifolium genebank accessions.     

Genetic variation within and among species of five sections of the genus Arachis L. (Leguminosae) using RAPDs

Some Arachis species are widely used as commercial plants, e.g. the groundnut A. hypogaea, an important source of good quality protein and oil, and A. pintoi and A. glabrata, that are utilized as forage species. Germplasm of most Arachis species is available in germplasm banks. However, little it is known about the genetic attributes of this germplasm, and mainly about its genetic variability, which is very important for its maintenance. In the present study RAPDs were used to assay the genetic variation within and among 48 accessions of five sections of the genus Arachis and to establish the genetic relationships among these accessions. Ten of 34 primers tested were selected for DNA amplification reactions since they yielded the largest numbers of polymorphic loci. A dendrogram was constructed based on data from the 10 primers selected. Eighty RAPD polymorphic bands were analyzed among the accessions studied. The relationships among species based on RAPDs were similar to those previously reported based on morphological, cytological and crossability data; demonstrating that RAPDs can be used to determine the genetic relationships among species of the different sections of the genus Arachis. In general, wide variation was found among accessions and low variation was found within the accessions that had two or more plants analyzed. However, higher polymorphism was found in the section Trierectoides and in one accession of A. major, indicating that generalizations should be avoided and each species should be analyzed in order to establish collection and maintenance strategies.     

Molecular Characterization of the USDA White Clover (Trifolium repens L.) Core Collection by RAPD Markers

White clover is one of the most important forage legume species worldwide, playing an important role in Southern Brazil temperate cultivated pastures. This work was aimed to characterize the genetic variability of the USDA white clover core collection formed by 78 accessions representing 50 countries, together with two very well known cultivars (Huia and Ladino Regal), using RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) markers to produce genetic fingerprints. There were used DNA bulks formed by the extraction and mixture of 20 random individuals from each accession. Twenty four primers were used, which revealed from 3 to 29 bands, forming a total of 371 polymorphic bans and only one monomorphic, ranging from 50 to 3098 bp. The results showed a genetic similarity among the accessions, ranging from 0.18 to 0.58 (Jaccard’s index), with an average of 0.24, allowing the identification of each individual accession using just three primers. The results also showed a large genetic variability within the white clover core collection, probably due to its reproduction mode and ploidy level, which could be used in plant breeding program.     

Development of an algorithm identifying maximally diverse core collections

The development of a core collection, one which represents the genetic diversity of a crop with minimal redundancy and increases utility of the collection as a whole, is especially important as the funding for germplasm collections decreases. With limited resources, it is difficult to manage large germplasm collections and disperse genetically diverse germplasm to plant breeders. An algorithm was developed to assist in selection of core collections based on estimates of genetic distance. The criteria for selection of the maximum genetically diverse set were based on rankings of genetic distance between an accession with respect to all other accessions. Depending on the size core which a user wished, a zone around each selected accession was determined and no other accession within these limits was selected. The premise for the algorithm was that the genetic variability represented in the core must be representative of the distribution of genetic distances within the population of interest. In the present study, the algorithm was used with RAPD-marker-based estimates of genetic distance for 270 Theobroma cacao L. accessions and 134 Capsicum accessions that chose a set representing 18.5% of the population and representing the breadth of RAPD-based variation.     

Genetic Diversity of the Greater Yam (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dioscorea alata</Emphasis> L.) and Relatedness to <Emphasis Type="Italic">D. nummularia</Emphasis> Lam. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">D. transversa</Emphasis> Br. as Revealed with AFLP Markers

Amplified fragment length polymorphism markers were used to assess the genetic relatedness between Dioscorea alata and nine other edible Dioscorea. These species include D. abyssinica Hoch., D. bulbifera L., D. cayenensis-rotundata Lamk. et Poir., D. esculenta Burk., D. nummularia Lam., D. pentaphylla L., D. persimilis Prain. et Burk., D. transversa Br. and D. trifida L. Four successive studies were conducted with emphasis on the genetic relationship within D. alata and among species of the Enantiophyllum section from Vanuatu. Study 1 was carried out to select a set of polymorphic primer pairs using 11 combinations and eight species belonging to five distinct sections. The four most polymorphic primer pairs were used in study 2 among six species of the Enantiophyllum section. Study 3 focussed mainly on the genetic relationship among 83 accessions of D. alata, mostly from Vanuatu (78 acc.) but also from Benin, Guadeloupe, New Caledonia and Vietnam. The ploidy level of 53 accessions was determined and results indicated the presence of tetraploid, hexaploid and octoploid cultivars. Study 4, included 35 accessions of D. alata, D. nummularia and D. transversa and was conducted using two primer pairs to verify the taxonomical identity of the cultivars `langlang', `maro' and `netsar' from Vanuatu. The overall results indicated that each accession can be fingerprinted uniquely with AFLP. D. alata is an heterogeneous species which shares a common genetic background with D. nummularia and `langlang', `maro' and `netsar'. UPGMA cluster analysis revealed the existence of three major groups of genotypes within D. alata, each assembling accessions from distant geographical origins and different ploidy levels. The analysis also revealed that `langlang', `maro' and `netsar' clustered together with the cultivar `wael' (D. transversa) from New Caledonia. Results are discussed in the paper.     

Molecular Characterization by AFLPs of Capsicum Germplasm from the Amazon Department in Colombia

Using AFLPs, 71 peppers (Capsicum) accessions from the species C. chinense Jacq., C. baccatum L., C. annuum L. and C. frutescens L. from indigenous communities of the Amazon Department (Colombia) were studied to assess the genetic diversity of the collections, and delineate species gene groups. Ten additional accessions were included as a reference species group. Three clusters were identified in the Amazonian accessions by Multiple Correspondence Analyses (MCA) and a dendrogram from the UPGMA analyses of Nei – Li genetic similarity. The clusters correspond to gene groups of the species Capsicum chinense (the majority of the accessions), C. baccatum and the complex annuum - frutescens. A fourth cluster corresponds to the reference accession C. pubescens. The MCA analyses accounted for 95% of the total variation. The total genetic variation was low (Ht 0.119) and a genetic diversity index (Gst) of 0.331 was obtained. This suggests a limited genetic diversity of the accessions and a close relatedness of the species. This study is the first molecular marker assessment of genetic diversity for peppers from the Colombian Amazon, and provides information of biodiversity that can be employed in the preservation and use of Capsicum germplasm.     

Geographic Pattern of Genetic Diversity Among 43 Ethiopian Mustard(Brassica carinata A. Braun) Accessions as Revealed by RAPD Analysis

As an oilseed crop, the cultivation of Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata) is restricted only to Ethiopia. Even though geographic diversity is a potent source of allelic diversity, the extent of genetic diversity among germplasm material of Ethiopian mustard from different countries has not been assessed. Forty-three accessions, comprising 29 accessions from eight different geographic regions of Ethiopia and 14 exotic accessions from Australia, Pakistan, Spain, and Zambia were analysed for their genetic diversity using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. A set of 50 primers yielded a total of 275 polymorphic bands allowing an unequivocal separation of every Ethiopian mustard accession. The usefulness of the 50 RAPD primers in measuring heterozygousity and distinguishing accessions was variable such that polymorphic information content (PIC) varied from 0.05 to 0.40, band informativeness (BI) from 0.05 to 0.65 and primer resolving power (RP) from 0.15 to 6.83. Jaccard's similarity coefficients ranged from 0.44 to 0.87 indicating the presence of a high level of genetic diversity. On the average, Australian and Ethiopian accessions were the most similar while, Spanish and Zambian accessions were the most distant ones. Cluster analysis grouped the 43 accessions into four groups, which has quite a high fit (r = 0.80) to the original similarity matrix. With no prior molecular information, the RAPD technique detected large genetic diversity among the 43 accessions from five different countries and their grouping by dendrogram and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) was inclined towards geographic differentiation of RAPD markers. Conversely, RAPD differentiation along geographic origin was not apparent within the Ethiopian accessions.