Genetic diversity in yam (Dioscorea spp.) accessions originated from traditional agriculture swiddens and commercial varieties assessed with microssatelite markers

• Grant number: 07/04805-2
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: February 01, 2008 - January 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Plant Genetics
• Principal researcher: Elizabeth Ann Veasey
• Grantee: Elizabeth Ann Veasey
• Home Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Using microsatellite markers, this study aims to characterize the genetic diversity of four yam species (Dioscorea alata, D. cayenensis, D. bulbifera and D. trifida), maintained by traditional agriculturists in the Vale do Ribeira, São Paulo, in the northern coastal areas of São Paulo, Santa Catarina and in the Northeast, represented by two regions in the States of Paraiba and Pernambuco. The project seeks to evaluate the level of genetic diversity of the landraces or local varieties maintained by these agriculturists as well as the genetic structure, to establish how it is distributed among and within swiddens and geographic regions. Accessions belonging to the ex situ germplasm banks of Faculdade de Ciências Agronômica de Botucatu (FCA/UNESP) and Instituto Agronômico (IAC) will also be evaluated. The study will compare the diversity of the landraces with commercial varieties and also evaluate the level of genetic diversity among commercial varieties of D. alata used in the State of São Paulo. The methodology for DNA extraction is the one already being used for cassava, previously tested and approved for these species of yam. To verify the presence of polymorphisms and good band resolution, 20 microsatellite loci will be tested for each of the four species. Considered as polyploid species, the data will be assessed as presence or absence of bands as though it was a dominant marker. Principal coordinate and cluster analyses will be conducted as well as the use of the Arlequin software for genetic structure analyses of the landraces. We trust this project will provide information that will aid future plant breeding programs and also new subsidies for in situ and on farm conservation. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SILVA, L. R. G.; MEZETTE, T. F.; NASCIMENTO, W. F.; SILVA, E. F.; VEASEY, E. A. Spatially structured morphological and molecular diversity among Dioscorea cayenensis and D-rotundata yam accessions. PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES-CHARACTERIZATION AND UTILIZATION, v. 15, n. 4, p. 296-309, AUG 2017. Web of Science Citations: 0.

SILVA, D. M.; SIQUEIRA, M. V. B. M.; CARRASCO, N. F.; MANTELLO, C. C.; NASCIMENTO, W. F.; VEASEY, E. A. Genetic diversity among air yam (Dioscorea bulbifera) varieties based on single sequence repeat markers. Genetics and Molecular Research, v. 15, n. 2 2016. Web of Science Citations: 1.

NASCIMENTO, WELLINGTON F.; RODRIGUES, JUCELENE F.; KOEHLER, SAMANTHA; GEPTS, PAUL; VEASEY, ELIZABETH A. Spatially structured genetic diversity of the Amerindian yam (Dioscorea trifida L.) assessed by SSR and ISSR markers in Southern Brazil. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, v. 60, n. 8, p. 2405-2420, DEC 2013. Web of Science Citations: 11.