Author(s): SOUSA, A. C. B.; JUNGMANN, L.; CAMPOS, T. de; SFORÇA, D. A.; BOAVENTURA, L. R.; SILVA, G. M. B.; ZUCCHI, M. I.; JANK, L.; SOUZA, A. P.

Summary: The Guineagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) is one of the most important tropical forage grasses, but genetic knowledge and tools regarding this species are still limited. Therefore, 20 novel polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed, validated, and employed in estimating genetic relationships among 25 P. maximum genotypes selected from a Brazilian germplasm collection. In addition, they were tested for cross-species amplification in four other forage grass species. The number of alleles observed for each locus ranged from 4 to 12 (average 6.7). The values of polymorphism information content (PIC) varied from 0.41 to 0.83 (average 0.61) and the discriminating power (D) ranged from 0.53 to 0.98 (average 0.72). Cross-amplification demonstrated the potential transferability of these microsatellites to four tropical forage grass species. Cluster analysis based on the unweighted pair group method revealed three distinct groups: two clusters consisted of P. maximum genotypes and a third cluster, consisted of the other tropical forage grass species. The data demonstrated that the microsatellites developed herein have potential for germplasm characterization and genetic diversity analysis in P. maximum and other forage grass species.

Publication year: 2011

Types of publication: Journal article

Unit: Embrapa Acre

Keywords: Amplificação cruzada, Capim Colonião, Capim Tanzânia, Fitomejoramiento, Forage grasses, Genetic markers, Genetic polymorphism, Genetic variation, Genotype, Genótipo, Gramínea Forrageira, Guineagrass, Marcador genético, Marcador microssatélite, Marcadores genéticos, Megathyrsus maximus, Melhoramento Genético Vegetal, Microsatellite repeats, Panicum Maximum, Pastagem, Pastos forrajeros, Plant breeding, Polimorfismo genético, Repeticiones de microsatélite, Seleção genótipa, Variación genética, Variação genética