Document Type : Original research paper

Authors

• Relique Ignace Agbo ¹
• Antoine Abel Missihoun ¹
• David Montcho ²
• Lauriano Kpanou ³
• Paulin Sedah ¹
• Germaine Avohou ¹
• Gustave Lambert Djedatin ³
• Clément Agbangla ¹

¹ Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526 Cotonou, Benin

² School of Plant and Seed Management and Production, National University of Agriculture, BP 43 Kétou, Benin

³ National School of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Applications, National University of Science, Technologies Engineering and Mathematics, BP 14 Dassa-Zoumé

Abstract

Onion is one of the widely consumed vegetables in most food preparations. The present study aims to evaluate the genetic diversity of onion cultivars in southern Benin in 2023. DNA isolation of the fourteen morphotypes collected was carried out using the CTAB protocol and amplified by PCR using five (05) RAPD markers. The observed polymorphism rate is 100%. A total of 35 alleles were scored with an average of 7 per locus. The Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) of loci varies from 0.734 to 0.806 with an average of 0.784. The loci OPA08 (Na = 8 alleles, PIC = 0.806) is the most polymorphic and the most discriminating. OPB08 (Na = 6 alleles, PIC = 0.734) is the least polymorphic and the discriminating loci. The rate of rare alleles is Ra = 31.42%. The lowest genetic distance (D = 0.09) is observed between PVOV and PVAL but the highest (D = 0.94) is between FPAL and BQOV. The dendrogram classified the morphotypes into four genetic groups with a dissimilarity coefficient of 40% confirmed by the Principal Coordinate Analysis. These results are globally significant for the definition of strategies for the improvement, conservation and sustainable use of onion genetic resources in Benin.

Keywords

• Allium cepa
• Genetic differentiation
• RAPD marker
• Genetic group
• Benin

Main Subjects

• Plant biodiversity and genetic resources