Bulk genetic characterization of Ghanaian maize landraces using microsatellite markers

Authors

  • Allen Oppong West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), College of Agriculture and Consumer Science, PO Box 30 University of Ghana, Legon; CSIR-Crops Research Institute, PO Box 3785, Kumasi, Ashanti
  • Claudia A Bedoya International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), El Batan, Mexico DF
  • Manfred B Ewool CSIR-Crops Research Institute, PO Box 3785, Kumasi, Ashanti
  • Maxwell D Asante CSIR-Crops Research Institute, PO Box 3785, Kumasi, Ashanti
  • Ruth N Thomson CSIR-Crops Research Institute, PO Box 3785, Kumasi, Ashanti
  • Hans Adu-Dapaah CSIR-Crops Research Institute, PO Box 3785, Kumasi, Ashanti
  • Joseph NL Lamptey CSIR-Crops Research Institute, PO Box 3785, Kumasi, Ashanti
  • Kwadwo Ofori West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), College of Agriculture and Consumer Science, PO Box 30 University of Ghana, Legon
  • Samuel K Offei West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), College of Agriculture and Consumer Science, PO Box 30 University of Ghana, Legon
  • Marilyn L Warburton USDA ARS Corn Host Plant Resistance Research Unit (CHPRRU), PO Box 9555, Mississippi State, 39762

Keywords:

maize, bulked fingerprinting, SSR, landraces

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L) was first introduced into Ghana over five centuries ago and remains the most important cereal staple, grown in all agro-ecologies across the country. Yield from farmers’ fields are low, which is attributed in part to farmer’s preferences and/or reliance on local landraces for cultivation. Efforts are underway to improve some of these landraces for improved productivity. Seeds of maize landraces cultivated in all agro-ecologies were col¬lected for genetic characterization using a bulked fingerprinting technique and 20 SSR markers. In all, 20 popula¬tions of 15 plants each from Ghana and 4 control populations from Latin America were characterized. The cluster analysis grouped the 20 landraces into two major groups corresponding to the vegetation/climatic conditions of the north and south of the country. Genotypes from Ashanti, which is centrally located, fell into both major clus¬ters, which suggest its importance in maize seed distribution in Ghana and also the diverse climate/vegetation. A Structure analyses grouped the genotypes into two major clusters similar to the UPGMA cluster, and populations were not fully distinct according to F statistics. The results suggest that breeders should make performance data available to seed dealers for better productivity.

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Issue

Vol. 59 No. 1 (2014)

Section

Articles

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