ARS | Publication request: ASSESSMENT OF THE GENETIC STRUCTURE OF IN SITU POPULATIONS OF WILD POTATO SOLANUM FENDLERI ECO-GEOGRAPHICALLY DISPERSED IN THE CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS, ARIZONA, USA

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 15, 2005
Publication Date: March 10, 2006
Citation: Del Rio, A., Bamberg, J.B., Fernandez, C. 2006. Assessment of the genetic structure of in situ populations of wild potato Solanum fendleri eco-geographically dispersed in the Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona, USA [abstract]. American Journal of Potato Research. 83:108.

Technical Abstract: Information on the spatial distribution and amount of genetic diversity (GD) of populations in their natural habitats could be helpful for germplasm conservation. For instance, potato genebanks could target habitats as well as populations identified with significant genetic richness and/or distinctiveness and gather them during collections. This study evaluated 169 individual plants distributed in 16 different in situ populations of Solanum fendleri (2n=4X=48). These populations were geographically located in the Chiricahua mountain range, SE corner of Arizona, USA. The genetic analysis examined DNA samples from these plants, and included 38 Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers to estimate parameters of genetic variation. The results indicated that the overall GD among populations was relatively low but with sufficient resolution to distinguish differences of GD within-populations. The assessment of genetic similarity (GS) showed that the average GS between populations was relatively high 99.1% (ranging from 99.5% to 97.2%). Our results also discovered that (1) one population (PI 636410) exhibited an exclusive SSR allele. (2) Three populations collected in the same geographical site were divergent in GD. (3) Based on GS, two populations (PI 636403 and 636411) were found to differentiate significantly from the rest. In summary, this study presents new genetic insights on the organization of GD of potatoes in their habitats. This information coupled with other studies could help setting up future collecting strategies.