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Genetic structure and gene flow in Ethiopian sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] landraces

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Abstract

Understanding the genetic structure of sorghum is a baseline for developing effective variety selection, conservation and management strategies. Here, we addressed the genetic diversity and population structure of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] landraces using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Seventy-seven sorghum accessions representing five regions and ten populations were analyzed using eleven SSR markers. Genetic diversity indices and diversity parameters were determined using GenAlEx, PowerMarker and Arlequin. Structure software was used to determine population genetic structure of sorghum. A total of 49 alleles with an average of 4.5 alleles per locus were identified. The average Shannon’s diversity index and expected heterozygosity were 0.61 and 0.36, respectively. The polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.23 to 0.67 with an overall mean of 0.48. The study revealed high gene diversity within the populations ranging from 0.25 to 0.72 with an overall mean of 0.53. AMOVA revealed 82.21% and 79.22% of total variation within regions and populations respectively, leaving only 17.79% and 20.78% variations for among regions and populations. The unweighted neighbour-joining based clustering, PCoA, and population structure analysis failed to group accessions according to their collection region and population. It indicates the presence of high gene flow between regions (Nm = 1.16) and populations (Nm = 0.95). Similarly, structure analysis confirmed two sub-groups with a greater degree of genetic admixture for both regions and populations. Therefore, the present study has generated useful information on the genetic diversity and structure of Ethiopian sorghum landraces which could be used for its improvement and conservation.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the first and corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI) is acknowledged for providing sorghum germplasm. The Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) through “Sorghum: screening and association mapping of drought tolerant sorghum genotypes in Ethiopia research project” is duly acknowledged for financially support.

Funding

The work was supported by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) through “Sorghum: screening and association mapping of drought tolerant sorghum genotypes in Ethiopia research project”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Applied Biology Department, School of Applied Natural Sciences, Adama Science and Technology University, P.O. Box 1888, Adama, Ethiopia

    Abdulnasir Kedir

  2. Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 3434, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Mulugeta Kebede

  3. Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Muluken Enyew, Tilahun Mekonnen, Kassahun Tesfaye & Tileye Feyissa

  4. Bio and Emerging Technology Institute (BETin), Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Kassahun Tesfaye

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  1. Abdulnasir Kedir
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  3. Muluken Enyew
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  4. Tilahun Mekonnen
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AK, MK, ME, TM, KT, and TF have involved in project planning, executing as well as writing the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Mulugeta Kebede.

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Kedir, A., Kebede, M., Enyew, M. et al. Genetic structure and gene flow in Ethiopian sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] landraces. Genet Resour Crop Evol 71, 1241–1256 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-023-01687-5

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