S01 - Session P3 - Genetic diversity in the plantain (Musa sp.) collection in Côte d’Ivoire revealed by single nucleotide polymorphism markers

Authors: Kouamé Germain Koffi *, Nda désiré Pokou , Deless Fulgence Thiémélé

Plantain ( Musa sp .) is a giant perennial rhizomatous herb native to South East Asia and the Western Pacific. Precise identification of plantain germplasm accessions is essential for efficient management, exchange and use of plantain genetic resources. Thirty-two accessions of plantain from the National Agricultural Research Center collection and six diploid cultivars of Musa were analysed using 59 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. The polymorphism information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.059 to 0.619 with an average of 0.375. The mean values of observed heterozygosity (Ho=0.337) were higher than the expected mean heterozygosity values (He=0.290), which confirms plantain's highly heterozygous nature. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that the genetic diversity at 96% of the total variation mainly resides within the population (which is based on inflorescence characteristics). The Bayesian clustering analysis and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) separated the 38 accessions into two and three clusters, respectively. Two cultivars of false horn were clearly separated from the bulk of other plantains, suggesting that they are a potential source of useful or rare genes for widening the genetic base of breeding populations derived from the plantains. This plantain SNP panel is a proficient tool to assist plantain germplasm management, propagation of planting material, and plantain cultivar authentication.