Molecular Identification of Seed Accessions Using Bulk Seed Samples: A Case Study on Alfalfa

KHAYAM NEKOUEI, MOJTABA

Molecular Identification of Seed Accessions Using Bulk Seed Samples: A Case Study on Alfalfa

Document Type : Original Research

Author

MOJTABA KHAYAM NEKOUEI

Department of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University

Abstract

Iran stands out as a significant center of genetic diversity for alfalfa (Medicago sativa) worldwide, harboring diverse types of this plant. Ensuring the authenticity of alfalfa populations and varieties is crucial for farmers and seed producers, as the genetic makeup of this species directly influences forage and seed yield quality. In this study, we developed a method to identify and differentiate key Iranian cultivated alfalfa populations using microsatellite markers. We collected random samples, each containing 100 seeds, from various alfalfa accessions. Nine microsatellite loci were screened and employed to differentiate these populations based on specific allelic genotypes. Notably, the MTIC233, BI90, ACT009, TC7, MTIC183, MS30, MTIC238, and AFCA11 markers exhibited the highest differentiation ability. The genetic distance analysis revealed that 5-B and foreign accessions, as well as 29-N and foreign accessions, were the most distant from each other. Conversely, 27-G, 9-H, and 21-R exhibited the closest genetic similarity. The results revealed that, accessions 9-H, 21-R, 27-G, 25-B, 5-B, and 2-G shared a common genetic background, suggesting their close relatedness. Our proposed method allows straightforward identification of target alfalfa accessions within a short timeframe (one to two days) without the need for DNA extraction from leaves.

Keywords

Alfalfa

SSR

Microsatellite

Bulk seed

Genetic identification

authentication

Molecular marker

Subjects

Agricultural Biotechnology

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