Investigating genetic diversity in sapucaia using inter simple sequence repeat markers.

Sapucaia is a tree species originating from the Brazilian Amazon and is widely distributed in Brazil, especially in the mid-north region (Piauí and Maranhão states). Its seeds are rich in calories and proteins, and possess great potential for commercialization. Little is known about the genetic variability in the germplasm of most Lecythis species.

Genetic structure and mating type analysis of the Pyricularia oryzae population causing widespread epidemics in southern Brazil.

Blast is a major disease of rice in Brazil, the largest rice-producing country outside Asia. This study aimed to assess the genetic structure and mating-type frequency in a contemporary Pyricularia oryzae population, which caused widespread epidemics during the 2012/13 season in the Brazilian lowland subtropical region. Symptomatic leaves and panicles were sampled at flooded rice fields in the states of Rio Grande do Sul (RS, 34 fields) and Santa Catarina (SC, 21 fields). The polymorphism at ten simple sequence repeats (SSR or microsatellite) loci and the presence of MAT1-1 or MAT1-2 idiomorphs were assessed in a population comprised of 187 isolates. Only the MAT1-2 idiomorph was found and 162 genotypes were identified by the SSR analysis. A discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) of SSR data resolved four genetic groups, which were strongly associated with the cultivar of origin of the isolates. There was high level of genotypic diversity and moderate level of gene diversity regardless whether isolates were grouped in subpopulations based on geographic region, cultivar host or cultivar within region. While regional subpopulations were weakly differentiated, high genetic differentiation was found among subpopulations comprised of isolates from different cultivars. The data suggest that the rice blast pathogen population in southern Brazil is comprised of clonal lineages that are adapting to specific cultivar hosts. Farmers should avoid the use of susceptible cultivars over large areas and breeders should focus at enlarging the genetic basis of new cultivars.

Caracterização genética de uma população natural de bacurizeiro (Platonia insignis Mart.) por meio de marcadores ISSR.

Nativa da Região Amazônica, o bacuri (Platonia insignis Mart) é uma espécie frutífera comumente utilizada na cultura alimentar da região Norte do Brasil. Apresenta grande importância para as populações rurais como fonte de renda, devido à sua comercialização. Devido à alta capacidade de reprodução, por meio da reprodução assexuada, pode ocorrer adensamento de indivíduos com alta similaridade, ocasionando diminuição na variabilidade genética populacional. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar a diversidade genética presente em uma população natural de Platonia insignis localizada no município de Bragança, no Estado do Pará, por meio de marcadores ISSR (inter simple sequence repeats). Dessa forma, foram genotipadas 78 plantas adultas de uma população de floresta secundária com seis primers ISSR. Os primers amplificaram 42 locos, dos quais 34 foram polimórficos, representando uma taxa de 81% polimorfismo com média de 5,66 de locos polimórficos por primer. Dentro das áreas de coleta, foram encontrados 53 indivíduos considerados clones, representando 68 % do total, considerando similaridade mínima de 0,95. Desta forma, foi possível visualizar a alta incidência de clones na população.

Cytogenetic characterization of the Passiflora edulis Sims x Passiflora cincinnata Mast. interspecific hybrid and its parents.

The genus Passiflora L. consists of approximately 530 widely distributed species, including Passiflora edulis, which has drawn interest because of its commercial and agronomic value. Passiflora cincinnata is another important species owing to its long flowering period and resistance or tolerance to diseases and pests. In the present study, the meiotic segregation and pollen viability of an interspecific hybrid (P. edulis x P. cincinnata) and its parents were analyzed. The genomic contents were characterized using chromomycin A3 (CMA3)/40-60-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, fluorescent in situ hybridization with 5S/45S ribosomal DNA (rDNA), genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. The results indicated the diploid chromosome number for the parents and interspecific hybrid was 2n = 18. We also observed regular meiosis, one pair of S rDNA sites, and two pairs of 45S rDNA sites that colocalized with two pairs of CMA3 /DAPI- bands. The GISH data revealed three distinct chromosomal groups in the hybrid. The genetic origins of the interspecific hybrid, and its relationship with its parents were also confirmed using ISSR markers.