Analysis of Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Yam (Dioscorea Species) Germplasm Using Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) Molecular Markers

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is an important food security crop with economic, nutritional, and medicinal value. It a source of carbohydrates for millions people in tropical sub-tropical regions Africa, Asia, South America, the Caribbean, Pacific Islands. Determining appropriate parents breeding programs most decision that plant breeders must make to maximize genetic variability produce excellent recombinant varieties. However, adequate diversity population structure yam accessions Kenya are not available guide accurate selection breeding. In present study, 25 start-codon-targeted (SCoT) molecular markers were used determine among 20 grown Kenya. A total 294 fragments amplified, which 95% polymorphic average 11.16 per primer. The information content (PIC) value primer resolving power (Rp) 0.58 5.91, respectively, revealed high accessions. dendrogram based on unweighted pair group method arithmetic means (UPGMA) grouped into two clusters at 0.61 similarity coefficients. Bayesian analysis existence three subpopulations some admixed Analysis variance (AMOVA) 60% within 40% subpopulations. degree successfully exhibited by SCoT may serve as valuable aid widen base programs. hybridization parental lines from different sub-clusters identified could provide foundation be exploited variety development.