Grouping of Rice Genotypes Based on Grain Iron, Zinc, Manganese and Protein and Performance Measurement of Linked Microsatellite Markers

In order to select the best parents for crossings, plant breeders seek varieties or genotypes with highest genetic dissimilarities. This can be achieved by measuring the similarities among genotypes, using multivariate analysis methods such as cluster analysis. This study aimed to group 50 aerobic and lowland rice genotypes based on biochemical characteristics including Iron, Zinc, Manganese and protein, and their linked DNA markers. According to the cluster analysis results using Ward method, the genotypes were assigned to four groups. The third group, as the smallest group including three genotypes (IR82635-B-B-82-2, Caiapo, and Gohar), had the highest value for these micronutrients. Their mean value for Iron, Zinc, Manganese, and protein were 32.39, 34.15, 25.66 mg/kg and 6.71%, respectively. Also, all genotypes were classified into two main groups based on microsatellite markers information, that according to QTL mapping studies these markers were identified as linked to elements. So, the most of non-local genotypes and aerobic rice cultivars were assigned in a separate group. The correlation between Euclidean distance of elements and protein matrix and genetic similarity matrix (Nie) using Mental correlation test was estimated significant (p<0.01) that can be evidence of a genetic relationship between the SSR markers and genome controlling regions of elements in this population.