Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of a Rhodes Grass (<i>Chloris gayana</i>) Collection

Rhodes grass (<i>Chloris gayana</i> Kunth) is one of the most important forage grasses used throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Enhancing the conservation and use of genetic resources requires the development of knowledge and understanding about the existing glo...

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Main Authors: Alemayehu Teressa Negawo, Meki S. Muktar, Yilikal Assefa, Jean Hanson, Alieu M. Sartie, Ermias Habte, Chris S. Jones
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-08-01
Series:Genes
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/12/8/1233
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author Alemayehu Teressa Negawo
Meki S. Muktar
Yilikal Assefa
Jean Hanson
Alieu M. Sartie
Ermias Habte
Chris S. Jones
author_facet Alemayehu Teressa Negawo
Meki S. Muktar
Yilikal Assefa
Jean Hanson
Alieu M. Sartie
Ermias Habte
Chris S. Jones
author_sort Alemayehu Teressa Negawo
collection DOAJ
description Rhodes grass (<i>Chloris gayana</i> Kunth) is one of the most important forage grasses used throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Enhancing the conservation and use of genetic resources requires the development of knowledge and understanding about the existing global diversity of the species. In this study, 104 Rhodes grass accessions, held in trust in the ILRI forage genebank, were characterized using DArTSeq markers to evaluate the genetic diversity and population structure, and to develop representative subsets, of the collection. The genotyping produced 193,988 SNP and 142,522 SilicoDArT markers with an average polymorphic information content of 0.18 and 0.26, respectively. Hierarchical clustering using selected informative markers showed the presence of two and three main clusters using SNP and SilicoDArT markers, respectively, with a cophenetic correction coefficient of 82%. Bayesian population structure analysis also showed the presence of two main subpopulations using both marker types indicating the existence of significant genetic variation in the collection. A representative subset, containing 21 accessions from diverse origins, was developed using the SNP markers. In general, the results revealed substantial genetic diversity in the Rhodes grass collection, and the generated molecular information, together with the developed subset, should help enhance the management, use and improvement of Rhodes grass germplasm in the future.
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spelling doaj.art-4b3441e5317648889f611c55f0205ece2023-11-22T07:46:26ZengMDPI AGGenes2073-44252021-08-01128123310.3390/genes12081233Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of a Rhodes Grass (<i>Chloris gayana</i>) CollectionAlemayehu Teressa Negawo0Meki S. Muktar1Yilikal Assefa2Jean Hanson3Alieu M. Sartie4Ermias Habte5Chris S. Jones6Feed and Forage Development Program, International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, EthiopiaFeed and Forage Development Program, International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, EthiopiaFeed and Forage Development Program, International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, EthiopiaFeed and Forage Development Program, International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, EthiopiaFeed and Forage Development Program, International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, EthiopiaFeed and Forage Development Program, International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, EthiopiaFeed and Forage Development Program, International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, EthiopiaRhodes grass (<i>Chloris gayana</i> Kunth) is one of the most important forage grasses used throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Enhancing the conservation and use of genetic resources requires the development of knowledge and understanding about the existing global diversity of the species. In this study, 104 Rhodes grass accessions, held in trust in the ILRI forage genebank, were characterized using DArTSeq markers to evaluate the genetic diversity and population structure, and to develop representative subsets, of the collection. The genotyping produced 193,988 SNP and 142,522 SilicoDArT markers with an average polymorphic information content of 0.18 and 0.26, respectively. Hierarchical clustering using selected informative markers showed the presence of two and three main clusters using SNP and SilicoDArT markers, respectively, with a cophenetic correction coefficient of 82%. Bayesian population structure analysis also showed the presence of two main subpopulations using both marker types indicating the existence of significant genetic variation in the collection. A representative subset, containing 21 accessions from diverse origins, was developed using the SNP markers. In general, the results revealed substantial genetic diversity in the Rhodes grass collection, and the generated molecular information, together with the developed subset, should help enhance the management, use and improvement of Rhodes grass germplasm in the future.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/12/8/1233DArTSeq markersgenetic diversityRhodes grass (<i>Chloris gayana</i>)subset
spellingShingle Alemayehu Teressa Negawo
Meki S. Muktar
Yilikal Assefa
Jean Hanson
Alieu M. Sartie
Ermias Habte
Chris S. Jones
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of a Rhodes Grass (<i>Chloris gayana</i>) Collection
Genes
DArTSeq markers
genetic diversity
Rhodes grass (<i>Chloris gayana</i>)
subset
title Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of a Rhodes Grass (<i>Chloris gayana</i>) Collection
title_full Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of a Rhodes Grass (<i>Chloris gayana</i>) Collection
title_fullStr Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of a Rhodes Grass (<i>Chloris gayana</i>) Collection
title_full_unstemmed Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of a Rhodes Grass (<i>Chloris gayana</i>) Collection
title_short Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of a Rhodes Grass (<i>Chloris gayana</i>) Collection
title_sort genetic diversity and population structure of a rhodes grass i chloris gayana i collection
topic DArTSeq markers
genetic diversity
Rhodes grass (<i>Chloris gayana</i>)
subset
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/12/8/1233
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