Response of Different Tomato Accessions to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses

TL;DR

This study analyzed the genetic diversity and population structure of 64 tomato accessions from Iraqi Kurdistan using phenotypic traits and molecular markers, revealing high variability and distinct genetic groups to aid breeding programs.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive genetic analysis of tomato accessions using multiple molecular markers and phenotypic data, which is novel for this regional germplasm.

Findings

High phenotypic variability among accessions

Seven distinct fruit characteristic clusters identified

Markers showed high polymorphism and genetic differentiation

Abstract

Accessions are prospective sources of genetic variability, as well as valuable genetic resources to deal with present and future crop breeding difficulties. The assessment of population structure and genetic diversity of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) that have been distributed in Iraqi Kurdistan region critical in breeding programs for the production of high-yielding cultivars as well as widening the genetic base of tomato. Using fruit quality indices and molecular markers, a panel of 64 tomato accessions taken from six provinces of Iraqi Kurdistan Region, were analyzed for genetic diversity and population structure. In the analysis of variance, the fruit phenotypic data revealed a high level of significant variability among tomato accessions. The most important characteristics for explaining fruit morphological variability, according to principal component analysis (PCA), were fruit weight, fruit size, fruit diameter, total soluble solids, and moisture content. Seven clades with different fruit characteristics were revealed in the cluster analysis. Genetic diversity and relationships among accessions were analyzed using thirteen inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR), twenty-six start codon-targeted (SCoT) polymorphisms, and fifteen conserved DNA-derived polymorphisms (CDDP). The ISSR, SCoT, and CDDP markers generated 121, 294, and 170 polymorphic bands, respectively, showing a high prevalence of polymorphism. The average polymorphism information content (PIC) values for ISSR, SCoT, and CDDP were 0.81, 0.84, and 0.84, respectively. The accessions were divided into two groups based on the cluster and STRUCTURE analysis results. The Mantel test revealed that three sets of markers had positive and significant relationships.