TITLE:
Evaluating Genetic Diversity in Kenyan Pineapple (Ananas comosus) Germplasm Using Sequence-Related Amplified Polymorphism (SRAP) Markers
AUTHORS:
Lilian Mwende Mwaniki, Bramwel Waswa Wanjala, Steven Runo, George Omwenga, Elphas Sambu Simiyu
KEYWORDS:
Pineapple, Genetic Diversity, Genetic Analysis, SRAP, Polymorphism
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.16 No.4,
April
29,
2025
ABSTRACT: Pineapple (Ananas comosus), a widely cultivated tropical fruit, is known for its global economic and nutritional significance. The study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of 80 pineapple accessions from Kenya using Sequence-Related Amplified Polymorphism (SRAP) markers. Out of the 48 SRAP primers, six polymorphic primers were identified. Genetic diversity was examined using DARWin, GenAlEx, and PopGene software. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) extraction followed a modified CTAB (Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) method, ensuring quality DNA for analysis. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was conducted with selected primers to amplify DNA segments, revealing polymorphisms. The findings revealed significant genetic differences among (22%) and within (78%) populations, with a PhiPT value of 0.221, Nei’s gene diversity (H) of 0.1761, and Shannon’s Information index (I) of 0.2699, indicating moderate population differentiation. Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) explained 53.47% of the overall genetic variation, revealing a relatively homogenous genetic composition within accessions. Gene flow (Nm) was 1.3623, suggesting moderate gene flow among populations. The dendrogram grouped samples into two clusters, corroborating the homogenous genetic composition. No differentiation among populations was observed using Nei’s genetic distance matrix. The overall genetic similarity suggests that most populations share a common genetic background. Improving the genetic diversity of Kenyan pineapples is essential for enhancing resilience and sustainability. This can be achieved through collecting local varieties, cross-breeding, importing new cultivars, conducting genomic studies, and establishing gene banks. These efforts will help make Kenyan pineapples more adaptable, productive, and resistant to climate change and other challenges.