Genetic diversity within and between polyploid sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) families obtained via caryopsis using microsatellite markers and multicategory model
- 1Federal University of Vicosa: Universidade Federal de Vicosa
Abstract
Genetic diversity analyses are essential for sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) breeding programs. Crossbreeding, based on genetic distances between parental plants, is a tool used to increase genetic variability and enhance plant selection; however, quantifying variation in highly polyploid species remains a challenge. The present study aimed to evaluate the diversity within and between 12 families of sugarcane derived from caryopses, analyzing 120 individual seedlings arranged in an augmented block design. Genotyping was performed using primers for 16 microsatellite loci, five simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci, and 11 expressed sequence tag-SSR (EST-SSR) loci. To accurately account for polyploidy, similarity calculations were performed using Bruvos distances among individuals and RST distances among the families. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that most of the genetic variability was within families (72%), with only 28% found between them. This high level of intra-family variation demonstrates that a significant reservoir of genetic diversity remains available within the crosses. The highest genetic similarity was observed between the families RB986952 x RB986960 and RB036122 x RB03611, whereas the lowest genetic similarity was observed between the families RB97319 x RB966928 and RB106802 x RB855036. Although the evaluated families shared high genetic similarity, the pronounced genetic variation within them demonstrates a robust recombination potential, indicating that the genetic basis of sugarcane can be better explored using the high variability that already exists in the selection of desirable morpho-agronomic characteristics within the families. Furthermore, this study highlights the importance of using appropriate distances for diversity studies with codominant markers, such as microsatellites, in polyploid species.
Related
- Breeding values, stability, and heterotic grouping of Asian Saccharum spontaneum collection for parental selection in sugarcane program
- Comparative physiological and transcriptomic analysis of rapid post-midday photosynthetic recovery in Saccharum spontaneum reveals candidate pathways for sugarcane improvement
- Deciphering the mosaic genome of sugarcane cultivars through polyploid admixture inference with AdmixPoly
- Genetic architecture of sugarcane traits in a polyploid genomics framework
- Genetic diversity and population structure of marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) pre-breeding lines revealed by morphological traits and microsatellite markers
BibTeX
@misc{borsuk2026genetic,
title = {{Genetic diversity within and between polyploid sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) families obtained via caryopsis using microsatellite markers and multicategory model}},
author = {L. G. da Mata Borsuk and H. Zeni Neto and V. BIALETZKI CRISTIANO and M. d. F. Pires da Silva Machado and C. Aparecida Mangolin and L. Martins Montini and J. Cristina da Silva and R. Frederico dos Santos},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.64898/2026.08.28.747747},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.28.747747v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Genetic diversity within and between polyploid sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) families obtained via caryopsis using microsatellite markers and multicategory model
AU - L. G. da Mata Borsuk
AU - H. Zeni Neto
AU - V. BIALETZKI CRISTIANO
AU - M. d. F. Pires da Silva Machado
AU - C. Aparecida Mangolin
AU - L. Martins Montini
AU - J. Cristina da Silva
AU - R. Frederico dos Santos
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/28
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.08.28.747747
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.28.747747v1
AB - Genetic diversity analyses are essential for sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) breeding programs. Crossbreeding, based on genetic distances between parental plants, is a tool used to increase genetic variability and enhance plant selection; however, quantifying variation in highly polyploid species remains a challenge. The present study aimed to evaluate the diversity within and between 12 families of sugarcane derived from caryopses, analyzing 120 individual seedlings arranged in an augmented block design. Genotyping was performed using primers for 16 microsatellite loci, five simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci, and 11 expressed sequence tag-SSR (EST-SSR) loci. To accurately account for polyploidy, similarity calculations were performed using Bruvos distances among individuals and RST distances among the families. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that most of the genetic variability was within families (72%), with only 28% found between them. This high level of intra-family variation demonstrates that a significant reservoir of genetic diversity remains available within the crosses. The highest genetic similarity was observed between the families RB986952 x RB986960 and RB036122 x RB03611, whereas the lowest genetic similarity was observed between the families RB97319 x RB966928 and RB106802 x RB855036. Although the evaluated families shared high genetic similarity, the pronounced genetic variation within them demonstrates a robust recombination potential, indicating that the genetic basis of sugarcane can be better explored using the high variability that already exists in the selection of desirable morpho-agronomic characteristics within the families. Furthermore, this study highlights the importance of using appropriate distances for diversity studies with codominant markers, such as microsatellites, in polyploid species.
ER -