Analysis of genetic diversity in Chinese sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] germplasm using DNA amplification fingerprinting.

The genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships in a representative sample of Chinese sweetpotato collection were assessed using the DNA amplification fingerprinting approach. DNA fingerprint profiles were developed for all 42 accessions tested. There were 19-26 bands for each accession and an average of 20.7 such bands were polymorphic. Chinese sweetpotato germplasm tested exhibited a high degree of genetic diversity. Phenetic analysis revealed five major clusters with the following components: (1) landraces from Guangdong Province, (2) landraces from Fujian province, (3) Chinese cultivars, (4) those closely related to Japanese sweetpotato cultivars, and (5) those closely related to the US sweetpotato cv. Nancy Hall. The genetic association observed between accessions was largely consistent with the known pedigree records. The DNA amplification fingerprinting may provide reliable insights into the domestication history of the sweetpotato crop and may be useful in germplasm enhancement.