Analysis of eggplant (Solanum melongena)-related germplasm: morphological and AFLP data contribute to phylogenetic interpretations and germplasm utilization

Abstract

A total of 94 Solanum accessions, including eggplants and related species, were morphologically characterized based on greenhouse observations, and molecularly analysed by the AFLP technique. Morphological parameters were helpful in assessing similarities or differences among accessions, and molecular data were used to support morphological conclusions. A dendrogram was computed based on the Dice genetic distances using the neighbour-joining method. The analysis was efficient in the assignment of a species name for eight out of nine accessions that were not previously classified, and revealed that 14 further accessions were misnamed in the collection originally received. The results indicate that the taxonomy of Solanum sections and subgenera including several species should be reconsidered. The AFLP technique was revealed as an efficient tool in determining genetic relationships among species. In general, morphological observations were consistent with molecular data, indicating that both approaches complemented to define the phylogenetic status of a large genus like Solanum. In terms of eggplant breeding, the molecular analysis of the Melongena complex, and of the other sections of the subgenus Leptostemonum, establishes useful germplasm relationships in the gene pool available for the genetic improvement of the cultivated species. The results we have provided highlight an urgent necessity to include molecular parameters in handling and characterizing the genebank-deposited germplasm related to cultivated crops.

Partitioning and distribution of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) variation among eggplant Solanum L. in Southwest Nigeria

“…Occurrence of S. incanum together with S. melongena still in cluster IV also indicates relatedness and probably progenitors from a common ancestral lineage. This observation of closeness between S. incanum and S. melongena supports the earlier finding of Sakata and Lester (1994) that used chloroplast DNA, , Furini and Wunder (2004) and Singh et al (2006). In fact, had earlier observed that wild forms of S. incanum are regarded as belonging to the same species as S. melongena.…”

“…Furini and Wunder (2004), Singh et al (2006) and Levin et al (2006). However, these are not in agreement with some earlier workers; for instance, studied variation among the cultivated and weedy taxa of S. melongena by allozymes and RAPD analyses; also Ge et al (2013) examined the genetic diversity and relationships among eggplant accessions collected from seven areas in China using SSR markers.…”

“…Tel: +234-8023436050. uncertainties still persist in this genus largely because previous studies to address the taxonomic problem of vegetable Solanum have focused mainly on morphology (Karihaloo and Rai, 1995;Kumar et al, 2013), crossability and F1 fertility (Baksh, 1979;Hassan and Lester, 1990a;Lester and Hassan, 1991;Furini and Wunder, 2004) and anatomy (Hassan and Lester, 1990b). Establishing genetic affinities on such parameters are insufficient, as Solanum makes successful crosses with putative progenitors as well as distantly related species.…”

Morphological diversity of eggplant (Solanum melongena) in Bangladesh

“…It is particularly useful for characterizing individual accessions and cultivars and as a general guide in the selection of the parents for hybridization (Furini and Wunder, 2004). Better knowledge on genetic diversity or genetic similarity could help to sustain long term selection gain (Chowdhury et al, 2002).…”

Molecular description and similarity relationships among native germplasm potatoes (Solanum tuberosum ssp. tuberosum L.) using morphological data and AFLP markers

“…The AFLP technique (Vos et al 1995) generally produces between 50 and 100 scorable fragments per polimerase chain reaction (PCR) reaction (Maughan et al 1996). This technique has been widely used in various crops, including cultivated potatoes (Powell et al 1996;Milbourne et al 1997;McGregor et al 2000;Avrova et al 2002;Straadt and Rasmussen, 2003;Furini and Wunder, 2004) and their wild relatives (Kardolus et al 1998). In the last years, the AFLP technology was used to differentiate genotypes used as ancestors in potato genetic improvement programs.…”