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ARS Home » Plains Area » Temple, Texas » Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #387513
Research Project: Contributions of Climate, Soils, Species Diversity, and Management to Sustainable Crop, Grassland, and Livestock Production Systems

Location: Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory

Title: Genetic variability and population structure of Ethiopian chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) germplasm

Author
item ADMAS, SINTAYEHU - Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute
item TESFAYE, KASSAHUN - Addis Ababa University
item HAILESELASSIE, TEKLEHAIMANOT - Addis Ababa University
item SHIFERAW, ELENI - Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute
item Flynn, Kyle

Submitted to: PLOS ONE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/12/2021
Publication Date: 11/29/2021
Citation: Admas, S., Tesfaye, K., Haileselassie, T., Shiferaw, E., Flynn, K.C. 2021. Genetic variability and population structure of Ethiopian chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) germplasm. PLoS ONE. 16(11). Article e0260651. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0260651.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0260651

Interpretive Summary: Evaluation of the genetic diversity and genetic structure/relationships of chickpea genotypes are valuable to design efficient germplasm conservation strategies and crop breeding programs. Information is limited, in these regards, for Ethiopian chickpea germplasms. Therefore, the present study was carried out to estimate the genetic diversity, population structure, and relationships of 152 chickpea genotypes using simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers. These analyses exemplified the existence of high genetic variation within and among chickpea genotypes. The 152 genotypes were divided into two major clusters based on Nei’s genetic distances. Model-based population structure clustering identified two discrete populations. These findings provide useful insight for chickpea collections and ex-situ conservation and national breeding programs for widening the genetic base of chickpea.

Technical Abstract: Evaluation of the genetic diversity and an understanding of the genetic structure and relationships of chickpea genotypes are valuable to design efficient germplasm conservation strategies and crop breeding programs. Information is limited, in these regards, for Ethiopian chickpea germplasms. Therefore, the present study was carried out to estimate the genetic diversity, population structure, and relationships of 152 chickpea genotypes using simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers. Twenty three SSR markers exhibited polymorphism producing a total of 133 alleles, with a mean of 5.8 alleles per locus. Analyses utilizing various genetic-based statistics included pairwise population Nei’s genetic distance, heterozygosity, Shannon’s information index, polymorphic information content, and percent polymorphism. These analyses exemplified the existence of high genetic variation within and among chickpea genotypes. The 152 genotypes were divided into two major clusters based on Nei’s genetic distances. The exotic genotypes were grouped in one cluster exclusively showing that these genotypes are distinct to Ethiopian genotypes, while the patterns of clustering of Ethiopian chickpea genotypes based on their geographic region were not consistent because of the seed exchange across regions. Model-based population structure clustering identified two discrete populations. These findings provide useful insight for chickpea collections and ex-situ conservation and national breeding programs for widening the genetic base of chickpea.