Studies on Molecular Variation in Commercially Cultivated Groundnuts (Arachis hypogaeaL.) Using SSR Markers

Abstract

Groundnut is an important cash and food crop cultivated throughout the tropics and sub-tropics. In Ghana, the crop is mostly cultivated in the three northern regions. Genetic variation is very important for improvement of the crop. Molecular variation in most commercially cultivated groundnut in most countries including Ghana is not well documented. This study was conducted to find molecular diversity among cultivated groundnut using SSR markers for further improvement. All 13 SSR markers were polymorphic with 76.9% of them showing PIC values above 0.50. Clustering analysis showed genetic similarities from 60% to 90% across the 20 genotypes. Molecular variation therefore exists in the commercially cultivated groundnuts. The 13 markers will be very useful in groundnut improvement programmes in Ghana and elsewhere. Early maturing genotypes 55-437, Shitaochi, Kumawu and Konkoma can be crossed with distantly related late maturing genotypes ICG7878, GK7, Nkatiesari, Otuhia and Summnut22 for further studies.