Genetic Diversity of Cassava Mutants, Hybrids and Landraces Using Simple Sequence Repeat Markers

Aims: Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a crop with largely unexplored and unexplained potentially valuable genetic variability. The knowledge and understanding of the extent of genetic variation of cassava germplasm is important for conservation and improvement.

Objective: The current study was to investigate the genetic divergence of cassava mutants, hybrids and landraces using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers.

Methodology: Genetic diversity of ten cassava genotypes was determined using 14 SSR markers.

Results: Findings from this study showed that the dendrogram based on UPGMA cluster analysis revealed that SSR data indicated the existence of high divergence among the accessions. The cophenetic matrices obtained showed that SSR data marker type was r = 0.91.

Conclusion: The wider genetic diversity observed using SSR markers would be valuable for efficient management of germplasm and for effective utilization of materials in breeding programmes to produce hybrids of desirable characteristics. The extensive genetic diversity is important to coming generations so that it copes with unpredictable environmental changes and human needs.