Genetic diversity in sugarcane cultivars assesed by DNA markers and morphological traits

PERERA, M. F.; ARIAS, M. E.; COSTILLA, D.; LUQUE, C.; GARCÍA, M. B., RACEDO, J.; CUENYA, M. I.; FILIPPONE, M. P. AND CASTAGNARO, A. P.

Revista Industrial y Agrícola de Tucumán

EEAOC

Año: 2013

0370-5404

Better knowledge of sugarcane genetic diversity will provide useful information concerning genotypic value forbreeding programs and should help to improve the use and conservation of genetic resources and the protection ofsugarcane varieties by intellectual property rights. Morphological descriptors are traditional tools to characterise varieties;however, they vary phenotypically because of environmental effects. Therefore, molecular markers have becomeincreasingly important for identifying genotypes and estimating diversity, as they are accurate, readily available, and are notaffected by the environment. The aim of this research was to evaluate genotypes used as parental materials in theSugarcane Breeding Program of Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres (EEAOC), Argentina, by usingmolecular markers (AFLP and SSR) and morphological traits, and by comparing the data obtained with two statisticalsoftware programs (NTSys and InfoStat). All cultivars grouped in one main cluster of the dendrogram when using bothprograms and at least 150 data points. Local Argentine genotypes grouped together with US-varieties and no clear geneticdifferentiation was found, probably due to regular germplasm exchange. Although morphological traits reflected externalresemblance only, the topology of the dendrogram was not modified when combining both molecular and morphologicaldata. These results suggest that both characterisation methods should be used to estimate genetic diversity. Molecularmarkers should be included internationally for sugarcane variety protection.