Genetic variability of sorghum landraces from lower Eastern Kenya based on simple sequence repeats (SSRs) markers
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Date
2016
Authors
Muui, Catherine W.
Muasya, Reuben M.
Kirubi, Duncan T.
Runo, Steven
Karugu, Arthur
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Academic Journals
Abstract
The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic variability of sorghum landraces grown in lower
eastern Kenya based on simple sequence repeats (SSRs) markers. A total of 44 landraces obtained
from the farmers and four improved varieties were analyzed using 20 SSR markers. All markers were
polymorphic with polymorphism information content (PIC) value ranging from 0.04 to 0.81 with a mean
of 0.49. Heterozygosity ranged from 0.00 to 0.04 suggesting that each detected a single genetic locus
and that each of the sorghum accession used was stable. The alleles ranged between 2 and 10 and an
average of 5.05 alleles per primer pair. The gene diversity ranged from 0.04 to 0.83 with a mean value of
0.53. All possible allele combinations ranged from 2 to 10, while major allele frequency ranged from 0.32
to 0.98. Genetic distances varied from 0.15 to 0.90 with two genotypes Karuge 1 and Karuge 2 obtained
from Kiritiri in Mbeere having the minimum (0.15) and indication of very close relatedness. The diversity
of the landraces was structured more on geographical locations and on seed colorations than agroecological
conditions. Such intraregional genetic proximity in sorghum landraces would arise through
seed exchanges among farmers. Analysis of molecular variation indicated higher variation within
populations than among the groups. The genetic diversity can be exploited in hybridization programs to
improve sorghum varieties grown by farmers in semi arid areas.
Description
DOI: 10.5897/AJB2015.14680
Keywords
Citation
African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 15(8), pp. 264-271, 24 February, 2016