Genetic relationships among accessions of African indigenous melons (Cucumis melo L. ssp. agrestis) using AFLP markers

Cucumis melo ssp. agrestis is among the most important cucurbit consumed in Côte d’Ivoire. Two varieties were identified and used in different areas. One is eaten as soup thickener and the second is used as vegetable. In spite of the socio cultural importance of this species, knowledge of its genetic diversity and differentiation is very poor. Little information is available on the variety itself or relationships between the both varieties. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers were employed to determine the genetic relationships between these varieties in Côte d’Ivoire. Five AFLP primer combinations were used for this study. A total of 75 loci were observed in the 24 accessions with 82.16% of polymorphic loci ranging between 13.3% and 100%. The averages of total gene diversity (HT) and within accessions genetic diversity (Hs) were 0.313 and 0.273 respectively. The inter accessions genetic diversity (DST) and the coefficient of gene differentiation among cultivars (FST) were 0.040 and 0.129 respectively. Cluster analysis using Unweighted Pair-Group Method using Néi’s genetic distance highlighted two main clusters indicating clearly separation between vegetable and thickener cultivars of Cucumis melo L. ssp. agrestis consumed in Côte d’Ivoire. These data are useful for best management of genetics resources of Cucumis melo L. ssp. agrestis.