Evaluation of Genetic Diversity of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Crossing Parents Using Agro-morphological Traits and Molecular Markers

Eight pollinators (as pollen parents) and four CMS lines (as seed parents) differing in salinity and drought tolerance were evaluated using agro-morphological traits and microsatellite markers. Root yield, leaf weight, sugar content, sodium content (Na+), potassium content (K+), a-amino nitrogen content, alkalinity coefficient, molasses sugar, white sugar content, extraction coefficient of sugar, dry matter, sugar yield, and white sugar yield were evaluated. The genetic diversity of ۱۴ individual plants within each parent (a total of ۱۶۸ genotypes) was also assessed using ۱۸ microsatellite (SSR) markers. The results showed that ۴۳ and ۳۲.۶% of the total variation in agro-morphological traits could be explained by the first ۲ principal components, which could discriminate salinity and drought tolerant parents. Based on SSR analysis, a total number of ۱۰۴ alleles were detected with an average number of ۵.۷ alleles per primer pair and an average polymorphism information content (PIC) of ۰.۶۴ with the highest PIC belonging to EST-SSR FDSB۵۰۲. Cluster analysis based on SSR markers clearly discriminated ۱۱۲ plants belonging to pollen parents from ۵۶ plants of seed parents. In conclusion, the SSR markers have been shown to be efficient and reliable for assessing genetic diversity in sugar beet crossing parents.

Keywords:

Genetic variation , Microsatellite , Root-sugar yield