Assessment on the genetic diversity of some avocado (Persea americana Mill.) varieties using microsatellite markers

Abstract

Persea americana Mill is cultivated popularly in the Central Highlands and South Eastern regions of Vietnam. The purpose of this study was to assess the genetic diversity of twenty-four avocado (Persea americana Mill.) varieties based on molecular markers SSR. The PCR analysis with 18 SSR markers showed 62 amplified bands including 59 polymorphic bands, and other properties such as 3.44 bands/primer and molecular sizes ranging from 70 to 350 bp. Three primers namely AVAG13, AVAG21 and LMAV.33 gave five polymorphic bands. The polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.12 to 0.90, in which LMAV.06 and LMAV.33 markers had the highest polymorphism. The analysis result also exhibited the similarity coefficient of twenty-four avocado varieties varied from 0.12 to 0.99. The phylogenetic analysis divided the genotypes into six main groups which have the mean similarity coefficient of 0.39.