Genetic Diversity of Black Amaranth (<i>Amaranthus quitensis</i> Kunth) Landraces of Ecuadorian Highlands: Association Genotypes—Color Morphotypes
Black amaranth (<i>Amarantus quitensis</i> Kunth) is an ancestral crop of the Ecuadorian Andean region, where traditionally it is called ataco or sangorache. Nowadays, there is some information about the phenotypic diversity of black amaranth landraces, but there are no data about their...
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/1/34 |
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| author | Hipatia Delgado Juan Pedro Martín |
| author_facet | Hipatia Delgado Juan Pedro Martín |
| author_sort | Hipatia Delgado |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Black amaranth (<i>Amarantus quitensis</i> Kunth) is an ancestral crop of the Ecuadorian Andean region, where traditionally it is called ataco or sangorache. Nowadays, there is some information about the phenotypic diversity of black amaranth landraces, but there are no data about their genetic diversity. In this study, we evaluated the genetic diversity of 139 black amaranth accessions collected twice (1981–1986 and 2014–2015) in three representative Ecuadorian Andean provinces for this crop (Imbabura, Tungurahua, and Cañar) using nine simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers. We detected low genetic diversity levels; only a total of 36 alleles were amplified in 139 accessions, with a mean allelic richness of 4.0 per marker, observed heterozygosity of 0.014, expected heterozygosity of 0.134, and Shannon’s information index of 0.297. In addition, only 17 genotypes were found, with a predominant genotype (83.6%) and up to 12 accession-unique genotypes. Moreover, a certain genetic diversity decrease was observed over the last decades, especially in Tungurahua and Cañar, where today practically only the predominant genotype exists. The ataco germplasm is genetically structured into two well-defined genotype clusters and could constitute two different genetic lineages. Furthermore, a clear association of each genotype group with a different color morphotype defined in a previous agromorphological characterization was observed. The accessions of the majority group of genotypes showed purple pigmentation in stems, leaves, and inflorescences, whereas those of the other genotype group showed less intense pigmentation (pink stems, inflorescences, and green leaves). Molecular information obtained in this study may be useful for the suitable management and conservation of this underutilized genetic plant resource that is of great food and cultural significance for indigenous farming communities of the Ecuadorian highlands. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:55:04Z |
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| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:55:04Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
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| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-77861f3a7e084f26811cb7bc6d39d66f2023-11-30T20:44:44ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722022-12-011313410.3390/agriculture13010034Genetic Diversity of Black Amaranth (<i>Amaranthus quitensis</i> Kunth) Landraces of Ecuadorian Highlands: Association Genotypes—Color MorphotypesHipatia Delgado0Juan Pedro Martín1Departamento de Biotecnología-Biología Vegetal, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro 2-4, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Biotecnología-Biología Vegetal, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro 2-4, 28040 Madrid, SpainBlack amaranth (<i>Amarantus quitensis</i> Kunth) is an ancestral crop of the Ecuadorian Andean region, where traditionally it is called ataco or sangorache. Nowadays, there is some information about the phenotypic diversity of black amaranth landraces, but there are no data about their genetic diversity. In this study, we evaluated the genetic diversity of 139 black amaranth accessions collected twice (1981–1986 and 2014–2015) in three representative Ecuadorian Andean provinces for this crop (Imbabura, Tungurahua, and Cañar) using nine simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers. We detected low genetic diversity levels; only a total of 36 alleles were amplified in 139 accessions, with a mean allelic richness of 4.0 per marker, observed heterozygosity of 0.014, expected heterozygosity of 0.134, and Shannon’s information index of 0.297. In addition, only 17 genotypes were found, with a predominant genotype (83.6%) and up to 12 accession-unique genotypes. Moreover, a certain genetic diversity decrease was observed over the last decades, especially in Tungurahua and Cañar, where today practically only the predominant genotype exists. The ataco germplasm is genetically structured into two well-defined genotype clusters and could constitute two different genetic lineages. Furthermore, a clear association of each genotype group with a different color morphotype defined in a previous agromorphological characterization was observed. The accessions of the majority group of genotypes showed purple pigmentation in stems, leaves, and inflorescences, whereas those of the other genotype group showed less intense pigmentation (pink stems, inflorescences, and green leaves). Molecular information obtained in this study may be useful for the suitable management and conservation of this underutilized genetic plant resource that is of great food and cultural significance for indigenous farming communities of the Ecuadorian highlands.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/1/34amaranthatacogenetic structurelandraceson-farm conservationSSR markers |
| spellingShingle | Hipatia Delgado Juan Pedro Martín Genetic Diversity of Black Amaranth (<i>Amaranthus quitensis</i> Kunth) Landraces of Ecuadorian Highlands: Association Genotypes—Color Morphotypes Agriculture amaranth ataco genetic structure landraces on-farm conservation SSR markers |
| title | Genetic Diversity of Black Amaranth (<i>Amaranthus quitensis</i> Kunth) Landraces of Ecuadorian Highlands: Association Genotypes—Color Morphotypes |
| title_full | Genetic Diversity of Black Amaranth (<i>Amaranthus quitensis</i> Kunth) Landraces of Ecuadorian Highlands: Association Genotypes—Color Morphotypes |
| title_fullStr | Genetic Diversity of Black Amaranth (<i>Amaranthus quitensis</i> Kunth) Landraces of Ecuadorian Highlands: Association Genotypes—Color Morphotypes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic Diversity of Black Amaranth (<i>Amaranthus quitensis</i> Kunth) Landraces of Ecuadorian Highlands: Association Genotypes—Color Morphotypes |
| title_short | Genetic Diversity of Black Amaranth (<i>Amaranthus quitensis</i> Kunth) Landraces of Ecuadorian Highlands: Association Genotypes—Color Morphotypes |
| title_sort | genetic diversity of black amaranth i amaranthus quitensis i kunth landraces of ecuadorian highlands association genotypes color morphotypes |
| topic | amaranth ataco genetic structure landraces on-farm conservation SSR markers |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/1/34 |
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