Abstract
Genetic variation of 36 Sechium edule accessions collected across 12 states in India was assessed using morphological traits and DAMD markers. Eighteen fruit morphological traits (both qualitative and quantitative) were evaluated to confirm the variations in the present collection. Quantitative traits showed major variations with respect to fruit weight (7.85–498.33 g/fruit), fruit length (5.8–15 cm/fruit), fruit diameter (6–28 cm/fruit) and length of the spine (0–5 cm). Qualitative traits were also diverse in fruit colour, shape, spine density, reticulation, flexibility of spine and furrow depth. The first six principle components showed 82.88% variation in the principal component analysis. The principal component analysis revealed that fruit weight, fruit width, fruit diameter, fruit shape, length of spine, spine density and furrow depth had a significant contribution to the total variation. The DNA analysis performed using DAMD primers were used for deducing the diversity at DNA level. The collection produced 102 bands out of which 97 were polymorphic and the percentage polymorphism ranged between 66.66 and 100 per primer. Discrete pattern of clustering was obtained using UPGMA method of complete linkage percent disagreement revealing high diversity among the collected accessions. Thus, the present study indicates that molecular and morphological marker map would improve our knowledge of S. edule and would facilitate efforts to breed improved S. edule cultivars.
Highlights
Sechium edule (Jacq.) Swartz (Chayote or air potato) is one of the neglected vegetable crops and belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae
The principal component analysis revealed that fruit weight, fruit width, fruit diameter, fruit shape, length of spine, spine density and furrow depth had a significant contribution to the total variation
Thirty six accessions were evaluated for fruit morphological variations using external fruit characters of S. edule
Summary
Sechium edule (Jacq.) Swartz (Chayote or air potato) is one of the neglected vegetable crops and belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. It is an herbaceous, perennial, monoecious climber and is considered as an important food in tropical and subtropical regions of the world (Morton 1981). The wild species of S. edule and the related species are abundantly found in Central America and Mexico, and is the center of origin. The close relatives, S. compositum, S. hintonii and S. tacaco are either endemic or restricted to their original area. Sechium edule was introduced in India where it grows widely in the South and North-Eastern parts of India (Newstrom 1991). The shoots, stems, leaves and tuberous roots are edible and the fruits are being consumed in many countries as it has been reported to have anti-diabetic (Maity et al 2013), antimicrobial (Ordonez et al 2003), anti ulcer (Sateesh et al 2012) and antihypertensive activities (Earl et al 2014)
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