SSR marker-based genetic characterization of Turkish oriental tobaccos

Turkey is one of the traditional oriental tobacco producing countries. Oriental tobaccos produced in Turkey are ecotypes specific to certain regions, local varieties and landraces, and they have unique characteristics. The present study was conducted to reveal the general and interregional genetic diversity levels of tobacco genotypes collected from different regions of Turkey based on DNA markers.

A total of 319 ecotypes/lines of Turkish Oriental Tobaccos collected from different regions (Aegean Region, Marmara Region, Karadeniz Region, and East and Southeast Anatolia Regions) of Turkey and cultivars Xanthi 81, Xanthi 2A, Canik Sitmasuyu, Katerini, Canik 190-5 and NC 55 were subjected to SSR marker analysis. Eighty-nine alleles were obtained from 21 markers examined, and the average number of alleles per marker was 4.05. A total of 314 unique tobacco genotypes were found among 319 plants evaluated using 19 polymorphic SSR markers. In the dendrogram constructed using SSR marker data, genotypes were divided into six clades based on geographic regions and levels of genetic diversity.

The presence of 314 unique genotypes among 319 tobacco plants evaluated indicated the high level of genetic diversity among Turkish tobaccos. While some of them were N. rustica tobaccos, some others were reminiscent of semi-oriental tobaccos. These genotypes merit further agronomic and technological characterizations, which could allow their utilization in future tobacco breeding.