-The Andean blackberry belongs to the genus Rubus, the largest of the Rosaceae family and one of the most diverse of the plant kingdom. In Colombia Rubus glaucus Benth, known as the Andean raspberry or blackberry, is one of the nine edible of the genus out of forty-four reported species. In this study wild and cultivated genotypes, collected in the Central Andes of Colombia were analyzed by AFLP and SSR markers. Sexual reproduction seems to play an important role in maintaining the genetic variability in R. glaucus, and the viability of using the SSR of Rubus alceifolius to characterize Colombian Rubus species was clearly demonstrated. All species evaluated produced very specific banding patterns, differentiating them from the others. Both AFLP and SSR produced bands exclusive to each of the following species: R. robustus, R. urticifolius, R. glaucus, and R. rosifolius. The SSR markers differentiated diploid and tetraploid genotypes of R. glaucus.

ABSTRACT. The species Rubus glaucus, also known as the Andean or "Castilla" blackberry, is one of nine edible species of this genus that grow naturally in Central and South America. In Colombia, this species is the most important of all Rubus species for agricultural and commercial purposes. We used 20 SSRs developed for other Rubus species to characterize 44 Colombian R. glaucus genotypes, collected from eight different departments, and to look for molecular differences between thornless and thorny cultivated blackberries. Eighty-two bands were obtained from 28 loci. The genotypes were classified into eight populations, corresponding to collection sites. The mean number of polymorphic alleles per locus in all populations and genotypes ranged from 1.857 to 2.393. Samples collected from Valle del Cauca, Quindío, Caldas, and Risaralda departments had the highest heterozygosity values. The finding of exclusive bands from R. glaucus genotypes from Valle del Cauca, Quindío, and Caldas demonstrates genetic and molecular differentiation between thorny and thornless Andean blackberries.

ABSTRACT. The genus Colletotrichum, comprised of pathogenic fungi that affect plants grown worldwide, causes the disease known as anthracnose in several fruit and vegetable species. Several studies conducted on plants have shown that the disease is characterized by the presence of one or several species of the fungus attacking the fruit or other organs of the same host. To develop and implement effective control strategies, it is vital to understand the genetic structure of the fungus in agricultural systems, identify associated Colletotrichum species, and define the subpopulations responsible for the disease. Molecular tools were accordingly developed to characterize genotypic populations of Colletotrichum spp, causal agent of anthracnose in commercial crops of Andean blackberry (Rubus glaucus Benth.). A microsatellite-enriched library for Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was developed to identify and characterize microsatellite loci among isolates collected in R. glaucus plantations. Thirty microsatellites were developed and tested in 36 isolates gathered from eight different blackberry-production areas of Colombia. Ten pairs of microsatellites were polymorphic.

Rubus glaucus Benth (known as “mora de castilla”) is a Colombian agricultural product, with probably, the major potential. This fruit combines features of Idaeobatus and Rubus subgenera. Despite its recognized importance in the economy of small producers, this crop has received little technological development; as a result, sowing procedures of this specie is done by using local cultivars asexually propagated by producers. Associated Rubus producers in Colombia has noticed the necessity to formalize the offer of planting material, starting with plant breeding programs tending to the obtention of more productive varieties with morphological features that facilitates cultural activities. This study presents the results of the evaluation of SSR and SNPs markers obtained in previous experimental works from a RNA-Seq transcriptome analysis. It was evaluated 15 promissory R. glaucus cultivars, which could be potential progenitors in future breeding schemes. Genetic characterization was accomplished by testing 22 SSR microsatellite and 78 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) markers. From evaluated SSR markers, 15 yielded positive PCR amplification generating 29 loci and 58 alleles. From evaluated SNPs markers, 36 yielded positive PCR amplification. Obtained sequences from amplified products with SNPs showed high homology with species belonging to Rosaceae family. Selection criteria of progenitors were based on the results of molecular characterizations and useful morphological features in the culture management. This research demonstrates the utility of molecular markers to assess genetic diversity of potential progenitors susceptible to plant breeding processes. This process, highly known as development of parental populations, determines in a great manner the success of plant breeding processes.

ABSTRACT.Researchers have classified the Heliconia genus as a group of highly variable and diverse plants. Species and cultivars are visually differentiated primarily on the basis of the color and size of inflorescence bracts. At taxonomic level, flower type (parabolic, sigmoid, or erect) and size are taken into account. The vast morphological diversity of heliconias at intra-specific, intra-population, and varietal levels in central-west Colombia prompted the present study. We characterized the genetic variability of 67 genotypes of cultivated heliconias belonging to 4552-4563 (2012) species studied revealed the monophyletic origin of the Heliconiaceae family, and identified the Heliconia subgenus as monophyletic while providing evidence of the polyphyletic origin of several representatives of the Stenochlamys subgenus.