Genetic Diversity and Redundancy Among Potato Accessions in the Montenegrin Collection as Revealed by Microsatellite Markers

Potato was introduced in Montenegro in the middle of the eighteenth century. Since then it has become the most important crop in plant production. During the period between 2008 and 2010 a total of 52 potato accessions was collected across Montenegro and stored in a national gene bank. In the study reported here 23 accessions from the collection were examined using microsatellite (also known as simple sequence repeats or SSRs) molecular markers with the aim to explore genetic diversity and redundancy within the germplasm. The accessions were selected on the basis of preliminary characterization of all 52 accessions for 11 lightsprout traits. Molecular characterization of 23 accessions by 12 SSR markers was carried out at SASA (Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture) that manages a database of more than 3000 genetic profiles of potato from Europe and abroad. Comparison of SSR genetic profiles of Montenegrin collection against the existing SASA database allowed us to test the authenticity of the Montenegrin accessions. Out of the 23 accessions examined, 13 showed distinct genetic profiles of which seven showed perfect matching with known cultivars, two profiles showed strong similarity to another two cultivars, and four profiles were found unique with regards to the SASA database. Application of microsatellite markers in this study provided valuable information on the extent of genetic diversity residing within Montenegrin potato germplasm; it gave clear indications of the scale of redundancy within the collection; and helped clarify the identity of the accessions. Four accessions within the collection might incorporate unique variation and will be subjected to further agronomical examinations to assess their potential for breeding purposes.