Plant Genetic Resources: Characterization and Utilization

Table of Contents - 2006 - Volume 4, Issue 03  

Research Article

AFLP marker diversity in water yam (Dioscorea alata L.)

C. N. Egesia1 c1, R. Asiedua2, G. Udea3, S. Ogunyemia4 and J. K. Egunjobia4

a1 National Root Crops Research Institute, xyaUmudike, PMB 7006, Umuahia 440001, Abia State, Nigeria

a2 International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, c/o L. W. Lambourn & Co., Carolyn House, 26 Dingwall Road, Croydon, CR9 3EE, UK

a3 Department of Natural Science, Bowie State University, Bowie, MD 20715, USA

a4 Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers were employed to assess intraspecific variability in water yam (Dioscorea alata L.). Fifty-three accessions of diverse geographic origins in West and Central Africa (Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Chad) and Puerto Rico were analysed using three AFLP primer combinations. Of the 342 amplification products generated, a mean of 53.4% were polymorphic. Genetic similarity coefficients ranged from 0.29 to 0.95. The accessions could be clustered into three major genetic groups with one outlier. Each group was a mixture of accessions of different geographical origin indicating that geography has not played a major role in the differentiation of the species. A few accessions clustered very tightly suggesting that there may be duplicate accessions in the collection. The wide genetic variation observed constitutes a good basis for genetic improvement of yam.

(Received January 24 2006)

(Accepted March 21 2006)

Key words

Correspondence:

c1 * E-mail: cegesi@yahoo.com

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