Analysis of genetic diversity in high biomass producing sugarcane hybrids (<i>Saccharum</i> spp. complex) using RAPD and STMS markers

Abstract

RAPD and STMS primers (15 of each) were employed to reveal genetic diversity among 23 high biomass producing sugarcane hybrids (<i>Saccharum</i> spp. complex). These high biomass hybrids were derived from <i>Saccharum</i> gene pool that consist of commercial hybrids (Co canes), genetic stocks with special characters, interspecific and intergeneric hybrids, and multi species hybrids. RAPD primers generated 221 amplicons, of which 162 amplicons (~73.3%) were polymorphic and 3 amplicons were specific to genotype. STMS polymorphic primer pairs generated 214 amplicons with an average of 11.9 polymorphic amplicons per primer pair. Six hybrids were identified by 12 unique STMS markers. Polymorphic information content (PIC) varied from 0.121 to 0.631, with an average of 0.447, and 0.195 to 0.663, with an average of 0.526, for RAPD and STMS markers, respectively. The genetic similarity between cultivars varied from 0.542 to 0.844 for RAPD and 0.478 to 0.874 for STMS markers. <span style="color:#131313;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:TE" lang="EN-GB">The average genetic similarity among the hybrids was 72% for RAPD and 73% for STMS. Dendrogram generated based on RAPD and STMS markers data grouped all the clones into three and six clusters, respectively. This study shows STMS markers as a good tool to discriminate genotypes of high biomass sugarcane hybrids with unique DNA fingerprints.

</span>