Microsatellite analysis of selected Lablab purpureus genotypes in Kenya

Lablab (Lablab Purpureus) is a legume of high nutritional value and broad social acceptance ranging from human food to soil fertility improvement to foarge. Information on genetic worth and diversity of lablab genotypes in Kenya is scanty and this is a great impediment to the improvement of the crop hence its utilization. This research was conducted to determine genetic diversity in lablab germplasm in Kenya using SSR primers. Thirteen genotypes comprising of collections from farmers and gene bank were planted in individual lines in the green house at Chepkoilel University College. CTAB DNA extraction from two weeks old leaves was done followed by PCR amplification using twenty one primer sets from common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and products separated on agarose gel. Four primers showed diversity in lablab, mapping a total of 14 amplicons with an average of 3.5 bands per primer. Clustering by UPGMA and PCoA showed similarity between genotypes grown by farmers and gene bank accessions. Genetic distance computed using Popgene ranged between 0.000 and 0.620, suggesting narrow variability among the materials. The genetic base of cultivated lablab is relatively narrow and needs to be expanded.