Inter and intra-population variability of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Jatropha curcas</Emphasis> (L.) characterized by RAPD and ISSR markers and development of population-specific SCAR markers

Jatropha curcas (Euphorbiaceae) is an oil-bearing species with multiple uses and considerable potential as a bioenergy crop. The present investigation has been undertaken to assess the extent of genetic diversity in a representative set of 42 accessions of J. curcas encompassing different crop growing regions in India along with a non-toxic genotype from Mexico as a prelude for utilization of promising and genetically divergent materials in the breeding programmes. Molecular polymorphism was 42.0% with 400 RAPD primers and 33.5% with 100 ISSR primers between accessions indicating modest levels of genetic variation in the Indian germplasm. The within-population variation based on RAPD polymorphism was 64.0% and was on par with the inter-population variation. Polymorphic ISSR markers have been identified that could differentiate the Indian accessions from the Mexican genotype and two of them were converted to SCAR markers. The SCAR primer pair ISPJ1 amplified a 543 bp fragment in all the Indian populations, while ISPJ2 with a specific amplicon of 1,096 bp was specific to the Mexican genotype. Population-specific bands have been identified for the accession from Kerala (2 RAPD markers), Neemuch-1 from Rajasthan (1 each of RAPD and ISSR markers) and the non-toxic genotype from Mexico (17 RAPD and 4 ISSR markers), which serve as diagnostic markers in genotyping. The study indicates an immediate need for widening the genetic base of J. curcas germplasm through introduction of accessions with broader geographical background.     

Molecular characterisation of cultivars of apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) using microsatellite (SSR and ISSR) markers

In this study, two microsatellite-based methodologies (SSR and ISSR) were evaluated for potential use in fingerprinting and determination of the similarity degree between 41 commercial cultivars of apple previously characterised using RAPD and AFLP markers. A total of 13 SSR primer sets was used and 84 polymorphic alleles were amplified. Seven ISSR primers yielded a total of 252 bands, of which 176 (89.1%) were polymorphic. Except for cultivars obtained from somatic mutations, all cultivars were easily distinguishable employing both methods. The similarity coefficient between cultivars ranged from 0.20 to 0.87 for SSR analysis and from 0.71 to 0.92 using the ISSR methodology. Dendrograms constructed using UPGMA cluster analysis revealed a phenetic classification that emphasises the existence of a narrow genetic base among the cultivars used, with the Portuguese cultivars revealing higher diversity. This study indicates that the results obtained based on the RAPD, AFLP, SSR and ISSR techniques are significantly correlated. The marker index, based on the effective multiplex ratio and expected heterozygosity, was calculated for both analyses (MI = 1.7 for SSR and MI = 8.4 for ISSR assays) and the results obtained were directly compared with previous RAPD and AFLP data from the same material. The SSR and ISSR markers were found to be useful for cultivar identification and assessment of phenetic relationships, revealing advantages, due to higher reproducibility, over other commonly employed PCR-based methods, namely RAPD and AFLP. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Genetic maps of RAPD, AFLP and ISSR markers in Ananas bracteatus and A. comosus using the pseudo-testcross strategy

Genetic maps of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) and inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers in pineapple (2n = 2x = 50) are reported for the first time. On the basis of a segregating population of 46 F1 individuals from a cross Ananas comosus x A. bracteatus, genetic maps of these two species were constructed using the two‐way pseudo‐testcross approach. The A. bracteatus map consists of 335 markers (60 RAPDs, 264 AFLPs and 11 ISSRs) assembled into 50 linkage groups, 26 of them with at least four markers. The A. comosus map consists of 157 markers (33 RAPDs, 115 AFLPs, eight ISSRs and the ‘piping’ trait locus) organized into 30 linkage groups, 18 of them with at least four markers. These maps cover, respectively, 57.2% of the A. bracteatus genome estimated as 3693 cM long, and 31.6% of the A. comosus genome calculated as 4146 cM. A rough estimate of 120 and 127 kbp/ cM on average was found for the relationship between physical and genetic distance for A. bracteatus and A. comosus, respectively.     

Cultivar identification and genetic relationship among selected breeding lines and cultivars in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Twenty two RAPD and 22 ISSR markers were evaluated for their potential use in determination of genetic relationships in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars and breeding lines. We were able to identify six chickpea cultivars/breeding lines by cultivar-specific markers. All of the cultivars tested displayed a different phenotype generated either by the RAPD or ISSR primers. Though ISSR primers generated less markers than RAPD primers, the ISSR primers produced higher levels of polymorphism (% of polymorphic markers per primer) than RAPD primers. A high level of within cultivar homogeneity was observed in chickpea. Cultivars/breeding lines originating from a common genetic background showed closer genetic relationship. Chickpea lines with similar seed type(kabuli or desi) had a tendency to cluster together. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Assessment of genetic diversity within and among Basmati and non-Basmati rice varieties using AFLP,ISSR and SSR markers

Molecular markers provide novel tools to differentiate between the various grades of Basmati rice, maintain fair-trade practices and to determine its relationship with other rice groups in Oryza sativa. We have evaluated the genetic diversity and patterns of relationships among the 18 rice genotypes representative of the traditional Basmati, cross-bred Basmati and non-Basmati (indica and japonica) rice varieties using AFLP, ISSR and SSR markers. All the three marker systems generated higher levels of polymorphism and could distinguish between all the 18 rice cultivars. The minimum number of assay-units per system needed to distinguish between all the cultivars was one for AFLP, two for ISSR and five for SSR. A total of 171 (110 polymorphic), 240 (188 polymorphic) and 160 (159 polymorphic) bands were detected using five primer combinations of AFLP, 25 UBC ISSR primers and 30 well distributed, mapped SSR markers, respectively. The salient features of AFLP, ISSR and SSR marker data analyzed using clustering algorithms, principal component analysis, Mantel test and AMOVA analysis are as given below: (i) the two traditional Basmati rice varieties were genetically distinct from indica and japonica rice varieties and invariably formed a separate cluster, (ii) the six Basmati varieties developed from various indica × Basmati rice crosses and backcrosses were grouped variably depending upon the marker system employed; CSR30 and Super being more closer to traditional Basmati followed by HKR228, Kasturi, Pusa Basmati 1 and Sabarmati, (iii) AFLP, ISSR and SSR marker data-sets showed moderate levels of positive correlation (Mantel test, r = 0.42–0.50), and (iv) the partitioning of the variance among and within rice groups (traditional Basmati, cross-bred Basmati, indica and japonica) using AMOVA showed greater variation among than within groups using SSR data-set, while reverse was true for both ISSR and AFLP data-sets. The study emphasizes the need for using a combination of different marker systems for a comprehensive genetic analysis of Basmati rice germplasm. The high-level polymorphism generated by SSR, ISSR and AFLP assays described in this study shall provide novel markers to differentiate between traditional Basmati rice supplies from cheaper cross-bred Basmati and long-grain non-Basmati varieties at commercial level.The first two authors have equal contribution     

应用SSR和ISSR标记分析栽培香稻品种的遗传多样性

本研究利用24对SSR引物和36个ISSR引物,分析33份来源于亚洲10个国家的香稻品种的遗传多样性。分别获得93条和181条多态性片段,每个SSR座位可检测3～8个等位基因,平均为4．23个;每个ISSR引物可检测3～8个多态性位点,平均为5．03个。根据SSR和ISSR标记计算的品种间遗传相似系数分别在0．294～0．884之间和0．595～0．867之间。聚类分析表明,利用两种标记所得的聚类结果基本上一致,与品种所处的3种气候类型变化基本相符。进一步证实SSR和ISSR标记是研究水稻种质资源分类有效的工具。     

Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers as a tool for the assessment of both genetic diversity and gene pool origin in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

In this study, we report the use of ISSR to assess genetic diversity and to determine the relationships among ten cultivars of common bean developed in Argentina and three materials from France. ISSR markers resolved two major groups corresponding to the Andean and Mesoamerican gene pools of common bean. We compared the results of previous analysis, performed with RAPD markers (Galván et al., 2001), with the results generated by means of ISSR. It appears that ISSR are better tools than RAPDs to identify beans by gene pool of origin though they did not revealed as many differences between individuals as RAPDs. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effectiveness of different classes of molecular marker for classifying and revealing variation in rice (Oryza sativa) germplasm

We have examined the effectiveness of similar numbers of markers from four molecular marker systems (AFLP, isozymes, ISSR and RAPD) for revealing genetic diversity and discriminating between infraspecific groups of Oryza sativa germplasm. Each marker system classifies the germplasm into three major groups (most effectively with isozymes and AFLPs), but with differences (primarily with ISSR) between the precise classifications generated. However, at the highest levels of genetic similarity there was only partial agreement as to relationships between individual accessions when different markers were used. When variance was partitioned among and within the three subspecific groups, although the differences were not significant, greater variation was found among than within groups using AFLP and isozymes, with the reverse for RAPD and ISSR. Measurement of polymorphism using average heterozygosity and effective number of alleles gave similar results for each marker system. These results are discussed in relation to various genetic resources conservation activities, and the advisability of extrapolating to other sets of germplasm particularly of other crop species. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Identification, characterisation, and chromosome locations of rye and wheat specific ISSR and SCAR markers useful for breeding purposes

Rye (Secale cereale L. and S. strictum) offers potential to increase the genetic variability and to introduce desirable characters for wheat improvements. Cytogenetic techniques have been used to screen wheat lines containing rye chromatin. These techniques are not adequate since they are highly technical and time consuming. They are not suitable for breeding programs that require rapid screening of large numbers of genotypes. The main objective of this study was to develop and characterize ISSR and SCAR markers that can distinguish wheat from rye genome. Total DNA from wheat, rye, and triticale accessions from different provenances were amplified with ISSR primers in PCR assays. Three wheat-diagnostic sequences were identified. In addition three rye-diagnostic ISSR markers of which, one marker specifically diagnostic for Secale strictum were characterized. Pairs of primers flanking these specific sequences were designed to produce SCAR markers. Two SCAR markers were rye genome-specific. One SCAR was present in all the seven rye chromosome, and another was specific to rye chromosomes two, three, four, and seven. These newly developed ISSR and SCAR markers should be useful to wheat breeders screening genotypes that may contain rye chromatins.     

Fingerprinting temperate <Emphasis Type="Italic">japonica</Emphasis> and tropical <Emphasis Type="Italic">indica</Emphasis> rice genotypes by comparative analysis of DNA markers

This paper describes the relative efficiency of three marker systems, RAPD, ISSR, and AFLP, in terms of fingerprinting 14 rice genotypes consisting of seven temperatejaponica rice cultivars, three indica near-isogenic lines, three indica introgression lines, and one breeding line of japonica type adapted to high-altitude areas of the tropics with cold tolerance genes. Fourteen RAPD, 21 ISSR, and 8 AFLP primers could produce 970 loci, with the highest average number of loci (92.5) generated by AFLP. Although polymorphic bands in the genotypes were detected by all marker assays, the AFLP assay discriminated the genotypes effectively with a robust discriminating power (0.99), followed by ISSR (0.76) and RAPD (0.61). While significant polymorphism was detected among the genotypes of japonica and indica through analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), relatively low polymorphism was detected within the genotypes of japonica rice cultivars. The correlation coefficients of similarity were significant for the three marker systems used, but only the AFLP assay effectively differentiated all tested rice lines. Fingerprinting of backcross-derived resistant progenies using ISSR and AFLP markers easily detected progenies having a maximum rate of recovery for the recurrent parent genome and suggested that our fingerprinting approach adopting the ‘undefined-element-amplifying’ DNA marker system is suitable for incorporating useful alleles from the indica donor genome into the genome of temperate japonica rice cultivars with the least impact of deleterious linkage drag.     

Pattern of variation for seed size traits and molecular markers in Italian germplasm of Phaseolus coccineus L.

Variation in Italian germplasm of Phaseolus coccineus L. was assessed for seed traits and molecular markers. A total of 130 seeds and seedlings, five for each of 21 Italian landraces, an Italian commercial cultivar and four Mesoamerican landraces of P. coccineus, were analysed using seven selected PCR markers: three RAPDs, two ISSRs and two ETs. Seed weight of the Mesoamerican landraces was ≤1 g, whereas that of the Italian landraces varied from 1 g to 2.5 g and was related to their origin. Oval shape was more frequent, with round shape observed only in Mesoamerican landraces. Three seed coat colours were observed: white, violet mottled or spotted black and buff spotted brown, also this trait was related to the origin. The level of polymorphism detected by molecular markers was low but with significant discriminant power. ISSRs were the most effective markers prone to unravel molecular polymorphism. The within accession component of variation exceeded that among accessions, as expected for an allogamous species. However correct classification of the individuals was achieved performing either discriminant analysis of the seed phenotypic traits or cluster analysis of seedling similarity measure based on the whole banding patterns obtained by the three marker types. Our data suggest that the Italian farmers, starting with ancestral Mesoamerican runner bean introductions in Europe, bred their own landraces through selection for seed size and seed coat colour, but occasional gene flow maintained variability within landraces bred by different farmers in the same Italian Region. Selection favored molecular and seed trait uniformity within several landraces making them suitable for certification.     

Inter and intra-species Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) variations in the genus Cicer

Intra and inter-species ISSR variation and use of ISSR markers in determination of genetic relationship were investigated in an accession collection representing twoperennial and six annual Cicerspecies. Screening of Ciceraccessions with SSR primers revealed highly reproducible amplicon profiles with relatively high multiplex ratios. Many of the primers generated amplicon profiles with which not only the differences among species can readily be identified, but also polymorphisms within species could be detected more efficiently. PCR products at 150 gel positions detected using six SSR primers in Cicer accessions were treated as dominant DNA markers and utilized to compute the distances among accessions and species. Cluster analysis of accessions and species revealed groupings that corroborate our previous studies of relationships based on allozyme and AFLP analysis. Consistent with the AFLP analysis carried out in the same accession collection, ISSR-based groupings indicated that perennial C. incisumis genetically close to the annuals of the second crossability group (C. pinnatifidum,C. bijugum, C. judaicum) while C. reticulatum is the closest wild species to the cultivated chickpea. ISSR-based variation estimates were relatively higher when compared to previous estimates computed from RAPD and AFLP data. Technically, ISSR analysis combines the PCR-based targeting of microsatellite-associated polymorphisms with no prior sequence requirement and stringent PCR conditions. Similarly, when compared to AFLP analysis, it is less technically demanding allowing to survey polymorphic loci in the genome. Thus, ISSR-PCR technology is a reliable, fast, and cost-effective marker system that can be used to study genetic variation and genetic relationships in the genusCicer. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

利用ISSR标记研究鹅观草属种质资源的遗传多样性

为进一步了解鹅观草属种质资源的遗传背景和拓宽牧草育种的遗传基础,科学指导鹅观草属种质资源的收集、评价和利用,利用ISSR(Inter simple sequence repeat marker)标记对鹅观草属20个种,6个变种,共60份材料进行了遗传多样性检测。结果发现,被测材料间ISSR标记的多态性较高,在20个引物中,有16个引物可扩增出清晰且重复性好的DNA片段,共产生125条DNA片段,其中104条具有多态性,多态性比率为83.20%;每个引物可扩增出6～10条DNA片段,平均7.81条,材料间遗传相似系数GS变幅为0.188～0.879,平均值为0.375;聚类分析表明,在遗传相似系数为0.441的水平上,60份材料可以聚为5类,属于同种、同组、同系的不同材料首先聚在一起,然后再与其他种的材料聚在一起,此外,材料的聚类还表现出一定的地域性规律。     

河北省棉花黄萎病菌致病性与ISSR遗传分化

 从河北省17个主要植棉县采集棉花黄萎病株,分离获得52个黄萎病菌单孢菌系,对其培养特性、致病性和ISSR(Inter-simple sequence repeat)遗传分化进行了研究。菌系培养性状研究表明,在采集的52个菌系中,菌核型菌系最多,其次是菌丝型,最少的是中间型,3种类型菌系分别占总菌系的51.9%,38.5%和9.6%。利用7个抗、感不同的鉴别寄主在光、温、湿可控的生长室鉴定了病菌的致病性,供试菌系可分为致病力强、中、弱3种类型(Ⅰ型、Ⅱ型和Ⅲ型),分别占供试菌系的51.9%,21.2%和26.9%。在供试菌系中存在比落叶型菌系致病力还要强的非落叶型菌系。基于病情指数的聚类分析结果表明,河北省棉花黄萎病菌系存在明显致病力分化,但与地理来源无关。菌核型菌系和中间型菌系多表现为强致病力或中等致病力,而菌丝型菌系的致病力变化较大。在136个ISSR标记中,80个属于多态性标记,多态性位点百分率达58.8%。基于ISSR的聚类分析结果表明,河北省棉花黄萎病菌的遗传分化较小,并且遗传分化与地理来源相关。     

Appraisal of RAPD and ISSR markers for genetic diversity analysis among cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) genotypes

The genetic variability and relationships among 11 cowpea genotypes representing two cultivars and nine elite genotypes were analyzed using 22 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and nine inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. ISSR markers were more efficient than RAPD assay with regards to polymorphism detection. But the average numbers of polymorphic loci per primer and resolution power were found to be higher for RAPD than for ISSR. Also, the total number of genotype specific marker loci, Nei’s genetic diversity, Shannon’s information index, total heterozygosity, and average heterozygosity were prominent in RAPD as compared to ISSR markers. The regression test between the two Nei’s genetic diversity indices showed low regression (0.3733) between ISSR and RAPD + ISSR-based similarities but maximum (0.9823) for RAPD and RAPD + ISSR-based similarities. The RAPD- and ISSR-generated cultivar- or genotype-specific unique DNA fingerprints able to identify the most diverse genotypes. A dendrogram constructed based on RAPD and ISSR combined data indicated a very clear pattern of clustering according to the groups (cultivars and elite genotypes). The results of principal coordinate analysis were comparable to the cluster analysis. Cluster analysis showed that most diverse genotypes (GP-125 — small size with good seed quality; GP-129, GP-90L — big size with poor seed quality) were separated from moderately diverse cultivars and genotypes. The genetic closeness among GP-129 and GP-90L, JCPL-42, and JCPL-107 could be explained by the high degree of commonness in these genotypes.     

Evaluation of genetic diversity among commercial cultivars, hybrids and local mango (Mangifera indica L.) genotypes of India using cumulative RAPD and ISSR markers

An assessment of genetic diversity studies was undertaken to understand the level and pattern of diversity in 65 mango (Mangifera indica L.) genotypes of India including 20 commercial cultivars, 18 hybrids, 25 local genotypes and two exotic cultivars based on qualitative and quantitative fruit characters as well as RAPD and ISSR profiles. A considerable variation was observed in respect of three important qualitative characters namely table quality, fruit attractiveness and storage life of ripe fruits and potentially superior genotypes for the above traits were identified. A wide variation was noticeable regarding metabolite composition of pulp of ripe mango fruit with respect to total soluble solids, total sugar, reducing sugar, acidity, sugar:acid ratio, ascorbic acid and phenolic content. Fifteen RAPD primers yielded 27 monomorphic and 129 polymorphic bands with percent polymorphism averaging 82.7%. Of a total 70 ISSR bands generated from eight ISSR primers, 60 bands (85.71%) were found to be polymorphic. Cumulative band data from these two methods precisely arranged accessions into eight clusters which correspond well with their pedigree relationship. UPGMA dendrograms drawn using RAPD, ISSR and cumulative data showed highly similar grouping of genotypes on the basis of their parental origin. No clear-cut geographical separation was revealed among East, West, North and South Indian mango cultivars by neither of these molecular markers nor their combinations. This supports the common gene pool origin of mango as well as operation of similar selection pressure as the cultivar preferences in these areas are largely similar.     

用RAPD、ISSR和AFLP标记分析系谱关系明确的甘薯品种的亲缘关系

用RAPD、ISSR和AFLP标记对系谱关系明确的7个甘薯品种进行了亲缘关系分析。24个RAPD引物、14个ISSR引物和9对AFLP引物分别扩增出173、174和168条多态性带。3种分子标记在检测甘薯品种间遗传差异上相关程度高，其中RAPD与ISSR之间的相关系数最大为0.9328。用ISSR标记估计的品种间遗传距离为0.1286~1.0932，平均0.4883，大于其余2个标记的估计值。3种分子标记皆可揭示甘薯品种的亲缘关系，其中ISSR标记产生的聚类图与系谱图最吻合，认为ISSR标记更适于分析甘薯品种的亲缘关系。     

Genetic diversity among tea cultivars from China, Japan and Kenya revealed by ISSR markers and its implication for parental selection in tea breeding programmes

Tea plant [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] is an important beverage crop in the world. In recent years many clonal tea cultivars have been released, and they play major roles in improving the production and quality of tea. It is important to understand the genetic diversity and relatedness of these cultivars to avoid inbreeding and narrow genetic basis in future tea breeding. In the present study, genetic diversity and relationship of 48 tea cultivars from China, Japan and Kenya were evaluated by inter‐simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. A total of 382 ISSR bands were scored, of which 381 (99.7%) were polymorphic. The ISSR primers showed high ability to distinguish between tea cultivars according to their high Resolving Power (R_P) with an average of 7.4. The mean of Nei’s gene diversity (H) and Shannon’s information index (I) were 0.22 and 0.35, respectively. More abundant diversity was revealed among cultivars in China than those in Japan and Kenya. Within Chinese populations, the level of diversity in east China was higher than that in other regions. The coefficient of genetic differentiation (G_ST) was 0.202, which indicates a high degree of genetic variation within populations. This result was further confirmed by analysis of molecular variance, which revealed the variance component within the populations (92.07%) was obviously larger than that among populations (7.93%). The level of gene flow (N_m) was estimated to be 2.0. This could be explained by frequent natural cross‐pollination and seed dispersal among tea populations. The pairwise similarity coefficient between the cultivars varied from 0.162 to 0.538. A dendrogram of 48 tea cultivars was constructed where all the tested cultivars were divided into two groups. Our data show that the genetic relationship among tea cultivars can be determined by the ISSR markers. This will provide valuable information to assist parental selection in current and future tea breeding programmes.     

烟草SRAP和ISSR分子遗传连锁图谱构建

采用烤烟品种台烟7号与白肋烟品种白肋21杂交,构建了187个单株的F₂遗传作图群体,利用所筛选的68个能扩增出多态性条带的SRAP和ISSR引物,对F₂作图群体进行PCR扩增和遗传连锁分析,初步构建了一张包含26个连锁群、112个(92个SRAP和20个ISSR)标记位点的烟草遗传连锁图谱。该图谱覆盖长度为1 560.2 cM,平均图距18.1 cM。有16个标记未进入连锁群。26个连锁群包含2~20标记不等,连锁群遗传距离0~291.0 cM。连锁群上有24.1%的标记出现偏分离,主要集中在LG1和LG4连锁群上,其余分散在不同连锁群。该图谱为烟草重要农艺性状的基因定位、以及分子标记辅助选择等研究奠定基础。     

Genetic diversity,structure and fruit trait associations in Greek sweet cherry cultivars using microsatellite based (SSR/ISSR) and morpho-physiological markers

It is important to couple phenotypic analysis with genetic diversity for germplasm conservation in gene bank collections. The use of molecular markers supports the study of genetic marker-trait associations of biological and agronomic interest on diverse genetic material. In this report, 19 Greek traditional sweet cherry cultivars and two international cultivars, which were used as controls, were grown in Greece and characterized for 17 morpho-physiological traits, 15 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci and 10 inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. To our knowledge, this is the first report on molecular genetic diversity studies in sweet cherry in Greece. Principal component analysis (PCA) of nine qualitative and eight quantitative morphological parameters explain over 77.33% of total variability in the first five axes. The SSR markers yielded a combined matching probability ratio (MPR) of 9.569 × e−12. The 15 SSR loci produced a total of 92 alleles. Ten ISSR primers generated 91 bands, with an average of 9.1 bands per primer. Expected heterozygosity (gene diversity) values of 15 SSR loci and 10 ISSR markers averaged at 0.683 and 0.369, respectively. Based on stepwise multiple regression analysis (MRA), SSR alleles were found associated with harvest time and fruit polar diameter. Furthermore, three ISSR markers were correlated with fruit harvest and soluble solids and four ISSR markers were correlated with fruit skin color. Stepwise MRA identified six SSR alleles associated with harvest time with a high correlation (P < 0.001), with linear associations with high F values. Hence, data analyzed by the use of MRA could be useful in marker-assisted breeding programs when no other genetic information is available.