TITLE:
Molecular Study of the Genetic Variability of Pumpkins Landraces from Brazilian Amazon
AUTHORS:
Lúcia Helena Pinheiro Martins, Maria Teresa Gomes Lopes, Hiroshi Noda, Pedro de Queiroz Costa Neto, Ayrton Luiz Urizzi Martins, Fabíola Viana de Almeida, Liane Cristine Rebouças Demosthenes
KEYWORDS:
Crop Genetic Variability, Molecular Marker, Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism, Cucurbita maxima Duchesne
JOURNAL NAME:
Agricultural Sciences,
Vol.9 No.4,
April
30,
2018
ABSTRACT: The Cucurbita maxima Duchesne is a vegetable crop plant cultivated and maintained by traditional Amazon communities, Brazil. The situation is worsened by the possibility of disappearance of local populations and genetic variability of this specie, taking into account the today changes promoted in family farming. The aim of this study was to estimate the current levels of genetic variability of local cultivars through the use of molecular markers (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism—AFLP). We chose to collect in two distinct micro regions in order to identify possible influences of geographic isolation and different levels of market requirements in the conservation of the genetic variability of the C. maxima. For the molecular analysis, bulk samples of fresh leaves of 15 plants/half-sibling family were collected in paper bags. There were 34 samples from the half-sib families. The analysis of the results half-sib obtained by methods of estimation of genetic variation by molecular markers shows that the forms of cultivation and management adopted by family farmers maintain the identities of the local/landraces (native cultivars) and, at the same time, the levels of diversity for the assurance of adaptability macro-environmental.