Genetic characterization of Orobanche cumana populations from the Thrace region of Turkey using microsatellite markers

Abstract

Orobanche cumana is a parasitic plant that can lead to advanced losses in yield of agricultural lands cultivating sunflower,depending on the sunflower varieties and the level of contamination. In our study, genetic diversity of six O. cumana populations fromthe Thrace region of Turkey was determined with the help of eight SSR (microsatellite) loci. All SSR loci were polymorphic. A total of 23alleles were determined for the analyzed 120 samples. Allele number of each SSR locus ranged from two to six. Mean number of alleles(Na = 2.271), effective allele number (Ne = 1.667), Shannon’s information index (I = 0.547), and heterozygosity levels (Ho = 0.207 andHe = 0.340) were calculated. A high proportion of the genetic variation (66%) was due to within-population variation and 34% of thediversity was due to among-population variations. Based on the UPGMA dendrogram and STRUCTURE analysis, there were two mainclusters. Cluster I was classified into three groups containing four populations from the Kırklareli and Edirne regions. Two populationsfrom Tekirdağ were in cluster II. The information obtained from this study is valuable to provide a significant contribution to studies onthe genetic structure, diversity, and race evolution of O. cumana and to the developed crop breeding studies and management strategiesfor controlling O. cumana infestation.