Diversity in Squash Varieties Assessed by ISSR Markers

ABSTRACT

The identification of Squash (Curcubita pepo L.) varieties is important for cultivation and breeding to enhance the probability of producing improved cultivars. There is a need to expand the information about genetic relationships between squash varieties for improvement of hybridization breeding programs. The genetic diversity and relationships among 10 squash varieties were evaluated by inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. A total of 73 bands were generated with eight ISSR primers, of which 45 bands were polymorphic (61.6%). The mean polymorphism index content was 0.32. There was a high degree of polymorphism between squash varieties. Cluster analysis based on Jaccard similarity coefficients grouped varieties into three main clusters. The type of data obtained from this study can be used to select suitable parents in hybridization breeding programs in squash.

KEYWORDS:

• Cucurbita pepo
• genetic diversity
• cluster analysis
• molecular markers