Highly polymorphic AFLP markers as a complementary tool to ITS sequences in assessing genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) and its wild relatives

Comparative analyses of genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationshipsof sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) and its wildrelatives in Ipomoea series Batataswere conducted using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and sequencedata from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal DNA. LowITS divergence among thirteen species of ser. Batatasresulted in poorly resolved relationships. More variable AFLP characters werefound to be more efficient in characterizing genetic diversity and phylogeneticrelationships at both intra- and interspecific levels within ser.Batatas. Highly informative AFLP fingerprints of 36accessions representing 10 species of ser. Batatas weregenerated using only six primer combinations. Of the species examined,I. trifida was found to be the mostclosely related to I. batatas, whileI. ramosissima andI. umbraticola were the most distantlyrelated to I. batatas. The highlypolymorphic AFLP markers are a valuable tool in assessing genetic diversity andphylogenetic relationships of sweetpotato and its wild relatives.