Assessment of Genetic Diversity of Serendipity Berry (Dioscoreophyllum Cumminsii (Stapf.) Diels) using Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) Polymorphism Molecular Marker

Abstract

Nigeria is home to many rare, endangered, and underutilized crops. Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii (Serendipity berry), is an indigenous  African vine. Despite its enormous nutritional and medicinal potential, especially for diabetics, minimal research attention and funding  has been given to this plant which is fast going extinct. Conservation, domestication, and genetic improvement efforts are needed. This  study examined the population structure and the genetic diversity of D. cumminsii germplasm in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Start Codon  Targeted (SCoT) polymorphism marker was used. 23 germplasm were analyzed using 7 SCoT markers. The CTAB procedures were used to  extract DNA from the seed tissue, and amplification was carried out. For scoring and data collection, amplicons were separated using  1.5% agarose electrophoresis. The results of gene diversity across populations showed a mean value of 0.762. With a gene diversity of  0.938, Scot 33 had the highest gene diversity, while SCoT 16 had the lowest. The mean value of polymorphic information content (PIC)  was 0.7294, and ranged from 0.334 in SCoT 16 to 0.934 in SCoT 33. The AMOVA indicated that 5% genetic variation existed among  populations, 5% among individuals, and 90% within individuals. UPGMA analysis divided accessions into three clusters. The SCoT marker- based study showed a higher level of genetic diversity within D. cumminsii individuals than diversity among the population and  individuals. This implies that D. cumminsii is genetically diverse. Management and strategies for conservation should be developed and  deployed to maintain the existing genetic resources of D. cumminsii.