The use of microsatellites in the characterization of three plantain cultivars from the Democratic Republic of Congo

Knowledge of the genetic variability plantain cultivars in Democratic Republic Congo (DRC) is limited. This study assessed diversity and relationships three accessions differing pseudostem color at seven microsatellite loci using SSR markers. DNA was extracted from banana leaves, PCR performed with unlabeled fluorescent-labeled primers eventual capillary sequencing. Different population analysis software used to interpret fragment data. There a high allelic power mean polymorphic information content 0.83. A average indicated by Nei's Gene Diversity Index (h: 1.38) Shannon Information (I: 2.22). Pairwise similarity between genotypes averaged 0.82. dendrogram grouped 60 into clusters. AMOVA showed variation within (98%) compared populations, no significant difference regarding pseudostem. In contrast, these were closely related each other. No correlation morphological molecular characterization observed. We recommend follow-up other regions large sample size for more representative   Key words: Characterization, microsatellites, diversity, cultivars.