Tianxu Cao a,b#, Jingyu
Suna#, Nan Shana, Xin
Chena, Putao Wanga, Qianglong
Zhua, Hongyu Zhanga, Qinghong Zhoua*, Yingjin Huang a,c*
a Agronomy College, Jiangxi Agricultural
University, Nanchang 330045, P.R.China
bSchool
of Advanced Agriculture and Bioengineering, Yangtze Normal University,
Chongqing 408100, China
c Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology, Ecology and
Genetic Breeding (Jiangxi Agricultural University), Ministry of
Education of China, Nanchang 330045, P.R.China
*Correspondence ZHOU Qing-hong, Tel: +86-0791-83828220, E-mail:
qinghongzhou@126.com; HUANG Ying-jin, E-mail: yjhuang_cn@126.com
# These authors contributed equally to this study
Uncovering the genetic diversity of yams (Dioscorea spp.)
in China by combiningphenotypic trait and
molecular marker analyses
Abstract:
China
is one of the native places of yams with abundant representative local
varieties. However, the genetic differences between these local
varieties remains unclear, thus considerably inhibiting their
utilization and development. In this study,
26
phenotypic traits of 112 accessions from 21 provinces in China were
evaluated, and 24 simple sequence repeat (SSR) and 29 sequence-related
amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers were used for the genetic
diversity analysis. A total of 56 variations of 20 quality traits were
detected in 112 accessions, and the most diverse phenotypic trait was
stem color. Meanwhile, seven principal components were obtained from 26
phenotypic traits, with a cumulative contribution rate of 69.39%, and
all the accessions were divided into six groups by clustering the
phenotypic traits. Unweighted
pair-group method with arithmetic means and principal coordinate
analysis based on SSR-SRAP marker data showed that 112 accessions were
also divided into six groups, similar to the result of phenotypic traits
but with a slight difference among few accessions.
Results of genetic structure
analysis showed that 112 accessions could be divided into two groups;
one group composed of the accessions of D. opposita , the most
abundant resource in China, and the other group was a collection of the
other accessions. In addition, the
analysis of the origin and genetic relationship of yam also indicated
that the specie of D. opposita may have originated in China.
These results clarified the genetic differences in yam in China, thereby
providing a basis for the identification, evaluation, and conservation
of yam resource.
Keywords:Yams;
Genetic diversity; Phenotypic trait;
Molecular
markers; Population structure.