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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Crop Production Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #282262
Title: Genetic diversity among geographically separated Cyperus rotundus accessions based on RAPD markers and morphological characteristics

Author
item Molin, William
item KRONFOL, RICHARD - VIRGINIA MASON MEDICAL CENTER
item Ray, Jeffery - Jeff
item Scheffler, Brian
item BRYSON, CHARLES

Submitted to: American Journal of Plant Sciences
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/18/2019
Publication Date: 11/21/2019
Citation: Molin, W.T., Kronfol, R.R., Ray, J.D., Scheffler, B.E., Bryson, C.T. 2019. Genetic diversity among geographically separated Cyperus rotundus accessions based on RAPD markers and morphological characteristics. American Journal of Plant Sciences. 10:2034-2046.

Interpretive Summary: Purple nutsedge, although appearing to have little genetic diversity, may be diversifying as propagules are introduced from one region or country to another. Scientists from USDA-ARS-CPSRU conducted a study to determine the diversity among purple nutsedge accessions collected from around the world in order to determine similarities at the genetic level. Greater genetic diversity was found among accessions outside of the US although within the US a single type was found with one exception. These results indicate that purple nutsedge is increasing in diversity which may lead to its spread into a greater number of environments and require more intense efforts by producers to achieve its control or management.

Technical Abstract: Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) is an important agricultural weed in tropical and warm temperate regions of the world. It reproduces primarily by asexual means through the production of rhizomes and tubers. As a result, there may be little genetic diversity between populations from different geographical locations. The objective was to determine whether genetic variation exists within a morphologically and geographically heterogeneous purple nutsedge collection using molecular techniques. DNA from a collection of fifty purple nutsedge accessions from 21 countries and 14 states were screened for random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers using synthetic decamer oligonucleotide primers. Thirteen of 240 primers produced diagnostic band patterns. Analysis of the RAPD scores indicated divergence of purple nutsedge into three cluster groups. With the exception of California-1, all US accessions were grouped into one group. However, this cluster also had accessions from Mauritius, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Western Samoa, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, El Salvador, Columbia, and West Indies. A second cluster included accessions from Sudan, Greece and California-1. Brazil, Argentina, Iran, Philippines, Indonesia and Tanzania formed a third cluster.