Genetic diversity analysis in a global panel of rice genotypes by microsatellites

The study was designed to characterize the genetic diversity of 95 rice genotypes from various countries by 67 microsatellite markers which covered all rice chromosomes. Number of 303 alleles was detected with an average of 4.52 alleles per locus. The average polymorphism information content value across the marker dataset was 0.51, and it was varied from 0.81 (RM 10346) to 0.11 (RM 4862). The cluster analysis based on UPGMA and Nei genetic distance grouped the studied population in four main subgroups with a significant tendency to cluster by geographical origins. Phylogenetic relationships among the genotypes were in agreement with cluster analysis results. Principal co-ordinates analysis (PCoA) with considering two first co-ordinates that explained about 71.15% of the total variation also confirmed cluster analysis results. Accuracy of cluster analysis was assessed by analysis of molecular variance and results revealed significant difference between clusters. The present study by evaluation genetic distances in part of Iranian germplasm against foreign inbreed lines and varieties obtain appropriate results for applying Iranian germplasm in rice breeding projects.