Analysis of genetic diversity among cultivated enset (Ensete ventricosum) populations from Essera and Kefficho, southwestern part of Ethiopia using inter simple sequence repeats (ISSRs) marker

This study was conducted with the objective to investigate the genetic variation among populations of cultivated enset ( Enset ventricosum ). Leaf samples for 71 enset plants were collected from two areas of southwestern (SW) Ethiopia (Kefficho and Essera). Inter simple sequence repeats (ISSRs) as a molecular marker was used to assess genetic diversity both within and between populations using two ISSR primers (834 and 826). A total of 26 clear and reproducible bands were amplified from the two primers. Both the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) and neighbor joining trees were constructed for each individual and population using Jaccard’s similarity coefficient. The trees indicated two separate clusters which are based on the origin of populations and few mixing of samples between regions was observed. The principal coordinated (PCO) analysis also recovered the UPGMA and neighbor joining trees groups. All parameters indicated that the clones of enset from Kefficho are more diverse than clones from Essera. Moreover, partitioning of Shannon’s diversity index showed that the majority of the variations were observed within populations than between the two populations. In conclusion all the diversity parameters confirm the existence of high genetic diversity within the study populations. Moreover, it also indicates that ISSR markers can be successfully applied for the assessment of genetic diversity of this species. Key words: Ensete ventricosum, Essera, Ethiopia, genetic diversity, inter simple sequence repeats, Kefficho.