Development and use of SSR markers for analysis of genetic diversity and correlation with lignin content in cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton) Germplasm
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Date
2014
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College of Agriculture, Vellayani
Abstract
The research work entitled “Development and use of SSR markers for analysis of genetic diversity and correlation with lignin content in cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton) germplasm” was carried out at Biotechnology and Bioinformatics division of Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI), Palode during 2013-14. India has rich genetic diversity of cardamom and this diversity might be the product of complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Understanding the footprints of divergence underlying the formation of various morphotypes/landraces is important for developing sustainable and high quality cardamom varieties. The study aims to analyse the natural variation inherent in the cardamom genome using microsatellite (simple sequence repeats, SSR) markers and test correlation with lignin content which is an important quantitative trait often attributed to pest tolerance characteristics. Lignin is a phenolic polymer which is required for mechanical support, water transport and defence in vascular plants. The insolubility and complexity of lignin polymer makes it resistant to degradation by most microorganisms. Therefore, lignin has a very vital role in plant defence and it may be hypothesized that cardamom plants with high lignin content exhibit improved pest resistance. Eighteen accessions including wild collections, landraces, and released varieties were selected for the present study. Twenty SSR primers were developed for cardamom and genetic diversity was analysed. Quantity of lignin was estimated and subjected to correlation analysis with genetic parameters. The lignin content has shown considerable level of variation among different accessions and the study clearly demonstrated existence of genetic diversity in various cardamom samples. The accessions were grouped into two, based on low and high lignin content. Statistical analysis revealed significant level of correlation between the lignin content and genetic diversity. Parameters such as observed homozygosity showed 70 and 67% correlation with low and high lignin groups. This correlation can be further elaborated to quantitative trait loci (QTL) studies for possible identification of alleles determining lignin content in cardamom and eventually help to breed elite cardamom lines with high lignin content.
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