Genetic variability of watermelon accessions based on microsatellite markers

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Plant Breeding
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Traditional farming practices in Northeastern Brazil maintain diverse watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) landraces.
• Understanding genetic variability is crucial for effective conservation and utilization strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the genetic variability of 40 non-commercial watermelon accessions from 8 regions in Northeastern Brazil.
• To inform conservation and utilization strategies for watermelon genetic resources.

Main Methods:

• Microsatellite markers were used to analyze genetic diversity in 40 watermelon accessions.
• Data were analyzed using Jaccard coefficient, UPGMA dendrogram, and Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA).

Main Results:

• High genetic variability was observed among watermelon populations (ΦST = 0.319).
• Specific genetic clusters were identified in 3 regions of Maranhão, but not in the other 5 regions.
• Genetic diversity was not uniformly distributed across the analyzed regions.

Conclusions:

• Geographical or environmental factors may limit gene flow in watermelon populations.
• Increased population sampling is recommended to better represent and preserve regional watermelon genetic diversity in germplasm banks.