Assessment of genetic diversity and relationships among Osmanthus fragrans cultivars using AFLP markers 

Wang Jun Yuan^1,2 · Yuan Ji Han¹ · Mei Fang Dong¹ · Fu De Shang*¹

¹ Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, College of Life Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, PR China
² Institute of Chinese Materia Midia, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, PR China

All of the authors contributed equally

*Corresponding author: fudeshang@henu.edu.cn

Financial support: This research was supported by the National Natural Science Funds in China (No. 30970176) and Innovation Scientists and Technicians Troop Construction Projects of Henan Province (No. 094100510018).

Keywords: AFLP marker, cluster analysis, genetic diversity, Osmanthus fragrans.

This study was conducted to reveal genetic diversity among 100 Osmanthus fragrans cultivars using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Eight AFLP primer combinations produced a total of 443 polymorphic fragments with an average of 64 per primer combination. The percentage of polymorphic bands (86.81%), the resolving power (Rp) (32.71) and the PIC values (0.331) showed the efficiency of used primer combinations. The revealed AFLP makers were effective in distinguishing all the cultivars considered. Cluster analysis were performed to assess patterns of diversity among cultivars and showed the abundant genetic diversity. The overall distribution pattern of molecular variation suggested that 93.33% of the total genetic variance was within the identified groups and 6.67% of the genetic variation was among the identified groups. Our results showed that AFLP markers are useful for Osmanthus fragrans germplasm discrimination as well as for investigation of genetic diversity and variation. The information will facilitate germplasm identification, conservation and new cultivar development.