Assessment of the genetic diversity and genetic relationships of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in China using RAMP markers

In this study, random amplified microsatellite polymorphism (RAMP) technique was used to examine the genetic relationships among 46 pomegranate genotypes, which were collected from 7 provinces in China. The results showed that a total of 127 bands were amplified by 14 pairs of high polymorphism primers, among which 113 (88.90%) were polymorphic bands, and that the effective number of alleles (Ne), Nei's gene diversity (H), and Shannon's information index (I) for pomegranate were 1.3345, 0.2126 and 0.2126, respectively. These results showed that there is the significant genetic diversity among pomegranate germplasm in China. When the genetic similarity coefficients (Gs) was 0.75, the 46 pomegranate cultivars were completely clustered into five groups by the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA). The cluster results indicated that the molecular classification was not consistent with the morphological/agronomical classification or geographic origin. The obtained genetic information assists toward the effective protection and sustainable utilization of pomegranate resources.

► Using RAMP there was a high level of genetic diversity in Chinese pomegranates.
► The 46 pomegranate cultivars were clustered into five groups.
► Obtained data aid to the protection and sustainable utilization of pomegranate.