Structural pattern and genetic diversity in blueberry (Vaccinium) clones and cultivars using EST-PCR and microsatellite markers
Citation
Tailor, S., Bykova, N.V., Igamberdiev, A.U., Debnath, S.C. (2017). Structural pattern and genetic diversity in blueberry (Vaccinium) clones and cultivars using EST-PCR and microsatellite markers. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, [online] 64(8), 2071-2082. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10722-017-0497-1
Plain language summary
Blueberry is a health promoting and economically important small fruit crop. DNA-based analysis to distinguish different plants provides an opportunity to develop new and improved varieties (cultivars) with desirable characteristics. DNA-based differences (variations) were studied in 56 wild lowbush blueberry plants, three half-high blueberry varieties (cultivars), one highbush blueberry cultivar, two lowbush blueberry cultivars and one lowbush blueberry selection. The half-high blueberries are the crosses (hybrids) between highbush and lowbush blueberries. The lowbush blueberry selection was obtained from plants germinated from the seeds of Fundy. Wild lowbush blueberry plants were collected from Canadian provinces: Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and New Brunswick. DNA-based statistical divided the plants into five groups that corresponded with their respective places of collection. Among all of the DNA differences observed, 33 % were found between the plants from different provinces. A further 23 % of the differences were found for plants from different communities within the provinces. The remaining 44 % of variation was found among plants from the same communities. It is evident that the blueberry plants used in this study were very distinct from each other. The availability of detectable DNA-based differences among these plants will contribute significantly to blueberry production and variety (cultivar) development programs. This research was conducted at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)’s St. John’s Research and Development Centre in collaboration with Memorial University of Newfoundland and AAFC’s Morden Research and Development Centre
Abstract
The blueberry (Vaccinium L. section Cyanococcus Rydb.) is a health promoting and economically important small fruit crop. Structured genetic diversity and relatedness were studied in 63 blueberry wild clones and cultivars, using eleven EST-PCR and nine microsatellite markers. Markers were found to be polymorphic and detected 249 alleles with mean polymorphic information content of 0.80 for EST-PCR; and 164 alleles with mean polymorphic information content of 0.77 for microsatellite markers. The average resolving power was 4.6 for EST-PCR and 2.6 for microsatellite markers. The average values of expected and observed heterozygosity, inbreeding coefficient and Shannon’s index were higher for the EST-PCR markers than those of microsatellites. Multivariate clustering analyses using neighbor joining and principal coordinate analyses formed five groups and clustered the genotypes according to their place of origin that were also confirmed by STRUCTURE analysis and analysis of molecular variance. While 33% of variation was found among the geographic groups, the variation among the communities within the groups was 23% and among genotypes within the communities was 44%, in combined analysis. The availability of high genetic diversity among the wild clones will contribute significantly in germplasm management and their utilization in the current blueberry improvement program.