Genetic diversity of Cucurbita maxima assessed using morphological characteristics and random-amplified polymorphic DNA markers in China

Abstract

ABSTRACTCucurbita maxima is one of the most widely cultivated Cucurbitaceae in Heilongjiang province, China. The objectives of this study were to clarify the genetic diversity of 44 accessions from different geographical origins using morphological and molecular characteristics and to compare the consistency of these morphological and molecular characteristics. Morphological characteristics showed a large qualitative variability primarily according to fruit-related traits. Twenty-eight random-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers produced 128 bands. Both morphological characteristics and RAPD markers grouped 44 accessions of C. maxima into four clusters, and the similarity coefficients ranged from 0.70 to 0.91 and from 0.40 to 0.98, respectively. DNA polymorphisms were highly consistent with phenotypic traits on rootstock C. maxima. The relationships between C. maxima from different origins were not clearly defined via morphological characteristics and RAPD analysis, suggesting some traits of C. maxima were specific to geographical location had disappeared or were weak in Heilongjiang province, which would not facilitate pumpkin breeding. Hybrid generations and their parent plants or sister lines were grouped into sub-clusters and showed little genetic distance according to both evaluation methods. Overall, morphological characteristics and RAPD markers were consistent and revealed high genetic diversity between C. maxima landraces from different origins.