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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Griffin, Georgia » Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #207075
Title: Microsatellite Variation in Avena Sterilis Oat Germplasm

Author
item FU, Y - AGRICU & AGRI-FOOD CANADA
item CHONG, J - AGRICU & AGRI-FOOD CANADA
item FETCH, T - AGRICU & AGRI-FOOD CANADA
item Wang, Ming

Submitted to: Theoretical and Applied Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/21/2006
Publication Date: 1/31/2007
Citation: Fu, Y.B., Chong, J., Fetch, T., Wang, M.L. 2007. Microsatellite Variation in Avena Sterilis Oat Germplasm. Theoretical and Applied Genetics. Theoretical Applied Genetics (2007) 114:1029-1038

Interpretive Summary: The Avena sterilis collection in the Plant Gene Resources of Canada (PGRC) consists of 11,235 accessions originating from 27 countries. These accessions are invaluable sources of genetic variation for genetic improvement of oats, but they have not been adequately characterized. A core collection of 369 accessions was formed and characterized by twenty-six polymorphic transferable SSR markers. Seven major clusters were identified from SSR data analysis. Accessions from Greece, Liberia, and Italy were genetically most diverse, while accessions from Egypt, Georgia, Ethiopia, Gibraltar and Kenya were most distinct. The results from SSR data analysis will help understanding progenitor species of cultivated oats, managing wild oat germplasm and exploring new sources of genes for oat improvement.

Technical Abstract: The Avena sterilis collection in the Plant Gene Resources of Canada (PGRC) consists of 11,235 accessions originating from 27 countries and is an invaluable source of genetic variation for genetic improvement of oats, but has been inadequately characterized, particularly using molecular techniques. More than 100 accessions have been identified with genes for resistance to oat crown and stem rusts, but little is known about their comparative genetic diversity. Attempt was made here to characterize a structures sample of 369 accessions representing 26 countries and two specific groups of accessions with Puccina coronata avenae (Pc) and Puccinia graminis avenae (Pg) genes using microsatellite (SSR) markers. Screening of 230 SSR primer pairs developed from other major crop species yielded 26 informative primer pairs for this characterization. These 26 primer pairs were applied to screen all the samples and 125 alleles detected were scored for each accession. Analyses of the SSR data showed the effectiveness of the stratified sampling applied in capturing country-wise SSR variation. The frequencies of polymorphic alleles ranged from 0.01 to 0.99 and averaged 0.28. More than 90% of the SSR variation resided within accessions of a country. Accessions from Greece, Liberia, and Italy were genetically most diverse, while accessions from Egypt, Georgia, Ethiopia, Gibraltar and Kenya were most distinct. Seven major clusters were identified, each consisting of accessions from multiple countries and specific groups, and these clusters were not well congruent with geographic origins. Accessions with Pc and Pg genes had similar levels of SSR variation, did not appear to cluster together, and were not associated with other representative accessions. These patterns are significant for understanding the progenitor species of cultivated oat, managing wild oat germplasm, and exploring new sources of genes for oat improvement.