African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12496

Full Length Research Paper

Genetic diversity of Cameroonian bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars revealed by microsatellite markers

Honore Tekeu
  • Honore Tekeu
  • Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P. O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
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Eddy M. L. Ngonkeu
  • Eddy M. L. Ngonkeu
  • Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P. O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
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Francois P. Djocgoue
  • Francois P. Djocgoue
  • Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P. O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
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Aletta Ellis
  • Aletta Ellis
  • Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa.
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Venasius Lendzemo
  • Venasius Lendzemo
  • Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, P. O. Box 2123, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
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Lezaan Springfield
  • Lezaan Springfield
  • Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa.
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Lionel Moulin
  • Lionel Moulin
  • IRD, CIRAD, Laboratoire des Interactions Plantes-Microorganismes-Environnement (IPME), Université de Montpellier, 911 Avenue Agropolis 34394 Montpellier, France.
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Agnieszka Klonowska
  • Agnieszka Klonowska
  • IRD, CIRAD, Laboratoire des Interactions Plantes-Microorganismes-Environnement (IPME), Université de Montpellier, 911 Avenue Agropolis 34394 Montpellier, France.
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Diegane Diouf
  • Diegane Diouf
  • Laboratoire Commun de Microbiologie de Dakar, Centre de recherche IRD/ISRA/UCAD, Route des Hydrocarbures, Bel Air, P. O. Box 1386, Dakar, Sénégal.
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Willem C. Botes
  • Willem C. Botes
  • Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa.
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Gilles Bena
  • Gilles Bena
  • IRD, CIRAD, Laboratoire des Interactions Plantes-Microorganismes-Environnement (IPME), Université de Montpellier, 911 Avenue Agropolis 34394 Montpellier, France.
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  •  Received: 29 May 2017
  •  Accepted: 04 August 2017
  •  Published: 06 September 2017

Abstract

The assessment of genetic diversity is a key prerequisite for studying the adaptation of populations to new environmental conditions, and therefore for the selection of new varieties. The present investigation aimed to estimate the levels and genetic structure within bread wheat varieties grown in Cameroon. Thus, genetic diversity was assessed in 17 hexaploid wheat cultivars, using 11 microsatellite markers. Genetic resources were collected in the Northwest, Adamawa and North Regions. All pairs of specific marker loci used gave amplifications with allelic variations of size on all DNA of wheat accessions. A total of 77 alleles were detected among cultivars and the number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 13 with an average of 7, comparable to those observed in most previous studies. Gene diversity ranged from 0.46 (Xgdm 125) to 0.90 (Xgwm 177) with an average of 0.88, increasing with the number of alleles, with a correlation coefficient of 0.88 (Adamawa) and 0.76 (Northwest). Microsatellite markers used had an average value of polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.69, indicating that these markers are highly informative in this study. These markers are valid and will make a contribution to the studies in hexaploid wheat. Moreover, cluster analysis at a genetic similarity of 80% and the principal component analysis, where the first two components explaining 59.86% of variation which structured 17 accessions in 5 main distinct groups. This high diversity revealed among wheat accessions, grown in Cameroon could be used in the breeding programs.

 

Key words: Genetic diversity, bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), simple sequence repeats (SSR), Cameroon.