Abstract
Thirty-one improved cultivars and five Nigerian landraces of cassava were assessed at genomic DNA level with 16 SSR primers for genetic diversity study. The minimum number of SSR primers that could readily be used for identification of the 36 cassava genotypes was also determined. For the genetic diversity study, the similarity coefficients generated between improved cultivars and Nigerian landraces ranged from 0.42 to 0.84, and 12 distinct DNA cluster groups were identified at 0.70 coefficients using Numerical Taxonomy and Multivariate Analysis System software package. For the genotype identification study, the 16 SSR primers were screened by their polymorphic information content (PIC) values. Five SSR primers that have PIC values between 0.50 and 0.67 were selected and further assessed using simple arithmetic progression combination method. The results obtained revealed a combination of these 5 primers from SSR primers collection at IITA that could readily distinguish the 36 cassava genotypes at 0.93 similarity coefficient. These five primers clustered the 36 cassavas into 16 groups at 0.70 similarity coefficient. Application of this few SSR primers would ultimately reduce the cost and time of research for genetic diversity and genotype identification studies for the genetic improvement program of cassava. Key words: Genetic Improvement, genomic DNA, genotype identification, polymorphic information content, SSR primers.
Highlights
In Nigeria, cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) serves as the main source of energy-rich food
Thirty-one improved cassava cultivars that were released to Nigerian farmers in 2000 and 2005 and five Nigerian landraces that were commonly cultivated in Nigeria were selected from Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)’s collections
The similarity matrix coefficient generated by the 38 SSR loci based on the NTSYS analysis ranged from 0.42 to 0.84 coefficients; the dendrogram obtained using unweighted pair clustering group arithmetic average (UPCGMA) analysis method in NTSYS software package revealed 12 distinct DNA cluster groups at 0.70 similarity coefficient (Figure 1, grouping is from right to the left)
Summary
In Nigeria, cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) serves as the main source of energy-rich food. The root is processed and prepared as “garri” and, to a lesser extent as “akpu/fufu”, as added values to raw cassava. Leaves and tendrils contain much higher protein contents and some people consume them as vegetables (Fregene, 1996). A sweet variety of cassava is boiled and eaten as “rogo” with pepper sauce in Northern Nigeria. Cassava is used as an animal feed and locally, as a source of starch. Cassava is used for the preparation of bread, chips, salad cream and confectionary such as cake and chin-chin
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