Determination of Genetic Diversity in Banana and Bell Pepper Lines Using Molecular Markers

Abstract

Successful hybrid cultivar breeding is depend on the high genetic diversity of the plant sources, as well as the homozygous and genetically distant lines requiring hybridization. The aim of this study is to determine the genetic distance between the inbred lines of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in order to increase efficacy of the breeding program. In this study, the genetic distances between the inbred lines of 44 bell peppers and 35 banana peppers were investigated using the SRAP (Sequence Related Amplified Polymorphism) markers. Based on pattern scores, dendrograms were produced by the UPGMA (unweighted pair-group method of mathematical averages method). Out of the 71 primer combinations tested, 50 combinations revealed polymorphisms among the banana pepper lines, and a total of 123 polymorphic bands were obtained. In the bell pepper lines, 24 SRAP primer combinations were tested and 15 combinations had 25 polymorphic bands. Based on the UPGMA cluster analysis, the pepper lines divided into groups as bell peppers and banana peppers. While the genetic similarity among the banana pepper lines varied between 0.62 and 0.98, the genetic similarity among the bell pepper lines varied between 0.54 and 1.00. As a result, it can be stated that the SRAP markers can be used successfully for determining the genetic distances of the pepper inbred lines thus will help the breeding programme.

Assessment of elite pepper breeding lines using molecular markers

“…However, the polymorphism rate of the primers was lower (60.77%) than our results. In another study using SRAP primer combinations for the molecular characterization of different pepper genotypes (Nas and İlbi 2022), it was reported that the number of polymorphic bands per primer combination ranged from 1 to 6. Zhong et al (2021) reported that SSR makers revealed average PIC, MAF, NE, I, and H values were 0.29, 0.755, 1.705, 0.576, and 0.331 in C. frutescens, respectively.…”

“…The results of PCA can lead to a better understanding of genetic diversity and structure of the pepper populations using that SRAP primers. Nas and İlbi (2022) reported that the first component in the PCA applied to the data obtained with SRAP markers explained 69.91% and 70.49% of the variation for banana pepper and bell pepper lines, respectively. In another study, the first PC axis explained 65% of the total variance as determined by PCA results obtained from SRAP marker data in the diversity of Turkish pepper genotypes (Bozokalfa et al 2017).…”