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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #331717
Title: Genetic diversity of cultivated lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) and its relation to the world’s agro-ecological zones

Author
item KHAZAEI, HAMID - University Of Saskatchewan
item CARON, CAROLYN - University Of Saskatchewan
item FEDORUK, MICHAEL - University Of Saskatchewan
item DIAPARI, MARWAN - Agriculture And Agri-Food Canada
item VANDENBERG, ALBERT - University Of Saskatchewan
item Coyne, Clarice - Clare
item McGee, Rebecca
item BETT, KIRSTIN - University Of Saskatchewan

Submitted to: Frontiers in Plant Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/22/2016
Publication Date: 7/26/2016
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/63013
Citation: Khazaei, H., Caron, C., Fedoruk, M., Diapari, M., Vandenberg, A., Coyne, C.J., Mcgee, R.J., Bett, K. 2016. Genetic diversity of cultivated lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) and its relation to the world’s agro-ecological zones. Frontiers in Plant Science. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2016.01093.

Interpretive Summary: Assessment of genetic diversity and population structure of germplasm collections plays a critical role in supporting conservation and crop genetic enhancement strategies. We used a cultivated lentil collection consisting of 352 accessions originating from 54 diverse countries to estimate genetic diversity and genetic structure using 1194 polymorphic DNA markers which span the lentil genome. Using several statistical approaches, the accessions were categorized into three major groups that prominently reflected geographical origin (world’s agro-ecological zones). The three clusters complemented the origins, pedigrees and breeding histories of the lentil germplasm. The three groups were (1) South Asia (sub-tropical savannah), (2) Mediterranean and (3) northern temperate. Our results also indicate that ICARDA lentil reference collection and USDA lentil core collection possess the highest levels of genetic diversity, while surveyed South Asian and Canadian breeding germplasm revealed narrow genetic diversity.

Technical Abstract: Assessment of genetic diversity and population structure of germplasm collections plays a critical role in supporting conservation and crop genetic enhancement strategies. We used a cultivated lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) collection consisting of 352 accessions originating from 54 diverse countries to estimate genetic diversity and genetic structure using 1194 polymorphic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers which span the lentil genome. Using principal coordinate analysis, population structure analysis and UPGMA cluster analysis, the accessions were categorized into three major groups that prominently reflected geographical origin (world’s agro-ecological zones). The three clusters complemented the origins, pedigrees and breeding histories of the germplasm. The three groups were a) South Asia (sub-tropical savannah), b) Mediterranean and c) northern temperate. Our results also indicate that ICARDA and USDA core collection possess the highest levels of genetic diversity, while surveyed South Asian and Canadian germplasm revealed narrow genetic diversity.