Work

Characterizing diversity based on phenotypes and molecular marker analyses of purple yam (Dioscorea alata L.) germplasm in southern China

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: Purple yam (Dioscorea alata L.), which is widely distributed in southern China, is characterized by great purple to red flesh or skin, as well as nutritional and medical values. However, their intraspecific genetic diversity remains unknown, which inhibits the germplasm innovation and variety protection of purple yams. In this study, genetic diversity of 26 landraces from southern China were carried out by using 17 morphological traits and 9 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, respectively. Results of phenotypic traits showed that all the accessions were divided into four groups at the euclidean distance of 1.43, and there is high correlation between the taxa and the regional distribution of yam accessions. The group IV includes the most accessions mainly from Jiangxi province, followed by group III, which contained accessions mostly from Fujian province. In addition, the leaf shape, leaf vein color and tuber flesh color, displayed higher Shannon's diversity index (I) and variation coefficient, which could identify the purple yam resources effectively. Based on the SSR markers analysis, the euclidean distance among all germplasms ranged from 0.17 to 0.79, and the 26 landraces were also clearly separated into four clusters at the euclidean distance of 0.49. Clustering results based on SSR markers and phenotypic traits were consistent roughly. Furthermore, population structure revealed the existence of three sub-populations in all accessions. These results demonstrate the genetic diversity and distinctness among the purple yam from southern China and provide a theoretical basis for the identification and utilization of purple yams.

Source: Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution

DOI: 10.1007/s10722-022-01388-5