Genetic diversity of Dianthus accessions as assessed using two molecular marker systems (SRAPs and ISSRs) and morphological traits

Abstract

Dianthus chinensis, Dianthus barbatus and Dianthus superbus are members of the Caryophyllaceae and are grown widely as ornamental plants. Information about relative genetic relationships can facilitate breeding programs. Here, we have compared two polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based systems (sequence-related amplified polymorphisms (SRAPs) and inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs)) and morpological trait measurements for their relative effectiveness in estimating the genetic diversity found between 22 Chinese pink ( D. chinensis) inbred-lines, one accession of D. barbatus and one accession of D. superbus. Interspecific differences were readily detected but the markers were less reliable in distinguishing the accessions according to their region of origin or in separating the wild species from the cultivars. Morphological traits were found to be the least effective genetic markers. The relative effectiveness of the three systems as markers for genetic diversity was concluded to be SRAP > ISSR > morphological traits, but the combined data from ISSR + SRAP analyses was superior to all three. The information generated by the SRAP marker system correlated more closely with morphological variability than did the ISSR marker system. The morphological markers of plant height/crown size ratio, lower leaf length, ovary shape index and calyx length showed strong correlations with the genetic diversity index (GD ij, PPB(II) and PSB) as generated by the percentage of polymorphic bands and percentage of special bands of the PCR-based markers.