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Characterization of the genetic diversity of Uganda’s sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) germplasm using microsatellites markers

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Abstract

Knowledge about the genetic diversity and structure of crop cultivars can help make better conservation decisions, and guide crop improvement efforts. Diversity analysis using microsatellite markers was performed to assess the level of genetic diversity in sweet potato in Uganda, and evaluate the genetic relationship between the Uganda’s germplasm and some genotypes obtained from Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Brazil and Peru. A total of 260 sweet potato cultivars were characterized using 93 microsatellite loci. The Ugandan collection showed a large number of distinct landraces, and very low (3 %) levels of genetic diversity between genotypes obtained from the different agro-ecological zones. There was low (6 %) levels of genetic diversity observed between the East African genotypes; however unique alleles were present in collections from the various sources. Pairwise comparisons of genetic differentiation indicated that Uganda’s germplasm was significantly different (P < 0.001) from cultivars from Tanzania, Ghana, Brazil and Peru. The presence of unique alleles in populations from various Uganda’s agro-ecological zones and other global regions, as well as the regional diversity patterns, suggest that efforts should be made to further collect and characterize the germplasm in more depth.

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Acknowledgments

We are very grateful to the Norman E. Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program (LEAP) for funding this research. Our sincere gratitude goes to Dr. Joseph Nduguru and Luambano Nessie at Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute, Tanzania for providing us with the samples from Tanzania. We are also grateful to Francis Osingada and Jimmy Akono at the Biosciences Facility of the National Crop Resources Research Institute, Uganda, Bramwel Wanjala of Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) Hub and Maggie Mwathi of CIP-Office at the International Livestock Research Institute in Nairobi, Kenya, for the technical assistance provided to conduct the research.

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  1. Barbara M. Zawedde

    Present address: Uganda Biosciences Information Center (UBIC), National Crop Resources Research Institute, 27 km Kampala - Zirobwe Road, Namulonge, Kampala, Uganda

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Program in Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology, Michigan State University, Plant and Soil Science Building, 1066 Bogue Street, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    Barbara M. Zawedde, Rebecca Grumet & Jim Hancock

  2. CIP Sub-Saharan Africa, International Potato Center, P.O. Box 25171, Nairobi, Kenya

    Marc Ghislain & Eric Magembe

  3. Embrapa Vegetable Crops, P.O. Box 218, Brasília, DF, CEP 70359-970, Brazil

    Geovani B. Amaro

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  1. Barbara M. Zawedde
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Correspondence to Jim Hancock.

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Zawedde, B.M., Ghislain, M., Magembe, E. et al. Characterization of the genetic diversity of Uganda’s sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) germplasm using microsatellites markers. Genet Resour Crop Evol 62, 501–513 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-014-0175-5

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