Genetic diversity in sugarcane germplasm using trap markers based on sucrose-related genes

The knowledge of the existing genetic diversity in the sugarcane germplasm is the key to the processes of genetic improvement, because it allows making crosses more effectively with the aim to get new cultivars. The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity of 62 progenitors of the sugarcane breeding program from the National Institute of agricultural research (INIA) using molecular markers TRAPS. During 2011, in the laboratory of Molecular Biology of the Foundation Institute of advanced studies (IDEA), Venezuela, seven initiators were evaluated for marker TRAPS. With the seven fixed initiators and two arbitrary ones were obtained 1303 all polymorphic bands whose size ranged between 84 and 760 pb with an average of 93 bands per combination of initiators. Three genotype groups were formed in which individuals are projected without a pattern associated with its origin. These groups presented a genetic similarity average 0.51 +/- 0.0069,0.49 +/- 0.0057 and 0.481 +/- 0.0057, respectively. Genetic diversity among groups was significantly (P<0.05) different among them. Although this genetic variability in parents seems to be small, it can be optimized in future cross with the purpose of obtaining greater variability or sugar content in new sugarcane cultivars.