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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Ithaca, New York » Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture & Health » Plant, Soil and Nutrition Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #330928

Title: Phylogenetic relationship among Kenyan sorghum germplasms based on aluminum tolerance

Author
item CHEPROT, REUBEN - Moi University
item MATONYEI, THOMAS - Moi University
item Liu, Jiping
item WERE, BEATRICE - Moi University
item DANGASUK, GEORGE - Moi University
item ONKWARE, AUGOSTINO - Moi University
item OUMA, EVANS - Moi University
item GUDO, SAM - Moi University
item Kochian, Leon

Submitted to: African Journal of Biotechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/20/2013
Publication Date: 5/29/2013
Citation: Cheprot, R.K., Matonyei, T.K., Liu, J., Were, B.A., Dangasuk, G.O., Onkware, A.O., Ouma, E.O., Gudo, S., Kochian, L.V. 2013. Phylogenetic relationship among Kenyan sorghum germplasms based on aluminum tolerance. African Journal of Biotechnology. 12(22):3528-3536.

Interpretive Summary: Eighty nine (89) sorghum lines sourced from various parts of Kenya were used to determine phylogenetic relationships based on 10 DNA fragments at AltSB loci with SbMATE, ORF9 and MITE primers. Nine lines of varying aluminum tolerance levels were selected to compare their SbMATE gene expression via the real-time PCR quantification of SbMATE gene expression. The sorghum line MSCRO2 expressed a thousand fold more SbMATE gene activity than the sensitive lines (MSCRM49, MSCRN84 and MSCRN61) under Al treatment. Analysis was done by agarose gel electrophoresis stained with ethidium bromide. The objective of this study was to assess the level of phylogenetic relationships among the Kenyan sorghum germplasms at a known Al tolerance locus. Hierarchical cluster analysis joined at 70% simple matching coefficient using average linkage similarity level produced nine groups in which 67 lines fell in three major clusters of 39, 15 and 13 lines each. The three Al tolerant lines MSCRO2, MSCRC1 and MSCRN60 were clustered together. Lines MSCRO2, MSCRC1 and MSCRN60, screened to be Al tolerant were genetically related at 70% average linkage similarity level and therefore recommend their further development as a food security measure in Kenya.

Technical Abstract: Phylogenetic relationship was determined through sequencing analysis of the SbMATE gene. Real-time RT-qPCR analyses were conducted to determine SbMATE gene expression patterns under Al stress. Lines MSCRO2, MSCRC1 and MSCRN60, screened to be Al tolerant were genetically related at 70% average linkage similarity level and therefore recommend their further development as a food security measure in Kenya.