Genetic diversity and nonparametric statistics to identify possible ISSR marker association with fiber quality of...

Due to the increasing search for renewable resources, plant fibers have become an alternative when creating new products. Studies demonstrate the potential use of pineapple fibers in composites. The objective of this work was to evaluate the genetic diversity and verify any association between ISSR (Inter Simple Sequence Repeats) bands and quality of pineapple fibers for use in cements in the civil construction. The study analyzed the genetic variability of 11 pineapple genotypes, as well as the possible association of 131 bands from 16 ISSR markers with fiber quality characteristics. Eleven bands were selected based on their high correlations (0.64578* to 0.72457*) with three fiber quality variables. Of these, two bands were purified, sequenced, and blasted against sequences in GenBank at NCBI. These markers can be used in marker assisted selection to genetically improve the quality of pineapple fiber. Bands that returned no hits in the NCBI BLAST search can be deposited as new sequences in the GenBank. Therefore, the SCAR markers, once validated, can be useful in pineapple genetic breeding programs worldwide by using molecular marker assisted selection for fiber resistance, which could subsidize the development of more promising genotypes for industrial use and contribute to the sustainability of this new production sector.