Microsatellite markers confirm high apomixis level in cassava bred clones

Apomixis genes have successfully been transferred to cassava by hybridization with the wild species, Manihot glaziovii. The interspecific hybrid of cassava and M. glaziovii was left for open pollination during the subsequent three generations. Seven sibs and their maternal progenitor of the fourth generation were genotyped using five microsatellite loci previously developed for cassava. All sibs were identical with each other and with their maternal progenitor. Sibs from M. glaziovii itself proved to be identical when examined by the same microsatellite loci. These results lead to the conclusion that apomixis do occur in wild cassava relatives and apparently has played an important role in Manihot speciation.