Philippine Journal of Science
149 (1): 169-197, March 2020
ISSN 0031 – 7683
Date Received: 26 July 2019

 

Genetic Characterization of Philippine Saba Germplasm
Collection Using Microsatellite Markers

 

Fides Marie R. dela Cruz1, Rita P. Laude1*, Carlo Miguel C. Sandoval2,3,
Lavernee S. Gueco2, Visitacion C. Huelgas2, Roberta N. Garcia2,3,
and Evelyn Mae T. Mendoza2,3

 

1Institute of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences
University of the Philippines Los Baños, Los Baños, Laguna 4031 Philippines

2Institute of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture and Food Science
University of the Philippines Los Baños, Los Baños, Laguna 4031 Philippines

3Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Food Science
University of the Philippines Los Baños, Los Baños, Laguna 4031 Philippines

 

*Corresponding author: rplaude@up.edu.ph; ritalaude50@gmail.com

 

[Download]
dela Cruz FM et al. 2020. Genetic Characterization of Philippine Saba Germplasm
Collection Using Microsatellite Markers. Philipp J Sci 149(1): 169–197.
https://doi.org/10.56899/149.01.17

 

ABSTRACT

The genetic diversity among 75 Philippine Saba gene bank collections and four non-Saba accessions were analyzed using microsatellite markers or simple sequence repeats (SSRs). Eleven primer pairs were found to be polymorphic across all genotypes and amplified a total of 28 alleles. The discriminatory power of the primers was moderately high with mean polymorphism information content (PIC) value of 0.38. Genetic diversity was measured in terms of heterozygosity, fixation index, and genetic distance. Average gene diversity or expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.09–0.58, with an average of 0.48. Observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.09–0.95, with a mean of 0.80. Fixation indices (mean = –0.61) were negative, which suggests an excess of heterozygotes and shows that diversity has been maintained within the gene bank collection. Cluster analysis revealed that the greatest genetic distance (GD = 0.69) was observed between Lakatan (AAA) and Cardaba 6 (ABB/BBB) bananas. Therefore, the SSR markers used were able to separate the Saba cultivars from the non-Saba cultivars. Furthermore, the markers were able to separate the seedy diploid cultivar Pacol from the rest of the triploid Saba cultivars. Future studies can survey other potential SSRs for better discrimination among Saba samples.