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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Genetics and Breeding Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #244934
Title: Genetic variability of cultivated rhizoma peanut

Author
item MAAS, ANDREA - Monsanto Corporation
item Anderson, William - Bill
item QUESENBERRY, KENNETH - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/10/2009
Publication Date: 9/1/2010
Citation: Maas, A.L., Anderson, W.F., Quesenberry, K.H. 2010. Genetic variability of cultivated rhizoma peanut. Crop Science. 50:1908-1914.

Interpretive Summary: Rhizoma perennial peanut (RPP) is a species of peanut that grows perennially in warm climates. Some genotypes can produce sufficient amounts of digestible leaves and stems to be considered excellent forage. Cultivars have been released in Florida and other genotypes are available in collections from Florida, Texas, and Georgia. The objective of this study was to measure genetic relatedness among 22 different RPP clones. Enough genetic differences were determined using amplified fragment-length polymerism (AFLP) to distinguish between specific accessions and to identify new germplasm from within existing cultivars. This indicates that natural crossing occurs in field grown collections and improved cultivars can be identified.

Technical Abstract: Rhizoma perennial peanut (RPP) (Arachis glabrata Benth.) is a vegetatively propagated tropical legume that combines high forage nutritive value and long-term persistence under a wide range of grazing and harvested hay systems. The objectives of this study were to measure the genetic relatedness among 14 RPP accessions and assess purity of accessions maintained at different locations. A total of 22 RPP clones included 8 duplicate accessions sourced from the national Arachis collections and germplams collections from Florida, Texas, and Georgia. Fourteen amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) primer combinations produced a total of 951 bands, with an average of 67.92±6.56 bands primer combination-1. UPGMA analysis found genetic similarity coefficients (GSA) that ranged from 0.21 to 1.0. STRUCTURE analysis found minimal population structure or admixture for the RPP lines in this study. Some of the duplicated accessions showed a range of genetic distances suggesting no genetic drift (GSA 1.0) to a high degree of drift (GSA 0.28). Overall, AFLP markers provided sufficient polymorphism to successfully differentiate RPP clones and determine when genetic drift occurred. AFLPs substantiated genetic dissimilarity of newly released cultivars from standard accessions. Results also indicated the potential of genetic drift occurring from spontaneous crossing among field grown accessions which could lead to selection of improved cultivars.