Abstract
The objective of this work was to use RAPD markers to analyze the genetic similarity of 18 accessions maintained in 37 rows in the germplasm collection of Cacao Research Center (CEPEC/CEPLAC), Itabuna, Brazil. Within each row a plant was chosen at random, from which genomic DNA was extracted. DNA sample of each row was amplified by the RAPD. Fifty one RAPD markers were generated, and then transformed to a matrix of binary data. These binary data were used to estimate genetic similarities and to perform cluster analyses. Genetic similarities of 0.70, 0.94 and 0.96 were observed between plants of the accessions RB 29, Ca 1 and C. Sul 4, respectively. The mistakes in the identification of accessions in different germplasm collections seems to be more common than expected. Also, considering the great importance of the germplasm collections, an international effort would be necessary for the characterization of all important cacao germplasm collections around the world.
Highlights
The germplasm collection is the place where the ex situ conservation of accessions is processed, that is to say, conservation out of its habitats, in the form of permanent collections of pollen, seeds, tissue cultures or collections of plants maintained in the field
The germplasm collection of CEPEC/CEPLAC, in Ilhéus, BA, Brazil, possesses around 1500 accessions of T. cacao occupying an area of approximately 20 ha
The objectives of this study were to use RAPD markers to analyze the genetic identity of 18 accessions maintained in duplicate within the germplasm collection of the Cacao Research Center (CEPEC/CEPLAC)
Summary
The germplasm collection is the place where the ex situ conservation of accessions is processed, that is to say, conservation out of its habitats, in the form of permanent collections of pollen, seeds, tissue cultures or collections of plants maintained in the field. In the case of cacao, the difficulty of working with its seeds demands that genetic resources are maintained in field collections of living plants, for the preservation of species (Almeida and Dias, 2001). The germplasm collection of CEPEC/CEPLAC, in Ilhéus, BA, Brazil, possesses around 1500 accessions of T. cacao occupying an area of approximately 20 ha The accessions in this collection are from several countries around the world, representing practically all the variability existing in the species (Pires et al, 2000). To facilitate the process of statistical data analysis, some accessions are maintained in two or more rows Such duplication, together with synonymy problems, homonymous and identification mistakes, make the transfer of results and recommendations among different breeding programs quite difficult and increase the level of time and resources needed for evaluating the genetic potential of the preserved accessions. The verification of the genetic similarities of those accessions maintained in two or more rows would be of great importance
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