Study on Genetic Relationship of Genus Corylus Resources in Sichuan Province Based on SSR Markers

Abstract

At least seven domestic wild hazelnut species are distributed in Sichuan province, which is an important distribution area for genus Corylus resources. In this study, nine SSR markers were used to analyze the population genetic diversity and genetic relationships of C. heterophylla var. sutchuenensis, C. yunnanensis, C. ferox, C. mandshurica, and C. avellana. The results showed that the mean number of effective alleles, observed heterozygosity, expected heterozygosity, and Shannon's information index of eleven test populations were 2.772, 0.644, 0.546, and 1.016, respectively, indicating that the population genetic diversity was at a medium level. In addition, the population diversity level of C. heterophylla var. sutchuenensis in Maoxian county and of C. yunnanensis in Luding county were higher than the other populations. Meanwhile, principal coordinate analysis and UPGMA cluster analysis showed that C. mandshurica was closely related with C. avellana, and that C. heterophylla var. sutchuenensis was also closely related with C. yunnanensis. This study was helpful to promote the breeding, protection and utilization of hazelnut germplasm resources in Sichuan province.