1. Genetic diversity of cassava landraces in the great
lakes region of Africa assessed using SSR markers
A. Pariyo1, 2*, Y. Baguma2, R. Kawuki2, C. Omongo2 , T. Alicai2, R. Edema1, G. Gashaka4, H. Obiero3,
M, Fregene6, I. Njuki5, M. Ferguson5 and A, Bua2
1MakerereUniversity Kampala (MAK), Kampala, Uganda; 2National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), Kampala
Uganda; 3Kenya
Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Kakamega, Kenya; 4Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Rwanda
(ISAR), Rwanda; 5International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nairobi, Kenya; 6International Centre for Tropical
Agriculture (CIAT), Cali, Colombia
*e-mail: apariyo@agric.mak.ac.ug, tkakau@yahoo.co.uk
Background Results
Assessment of genetic diversity using molecular tools has Farmers preference based on plant archtecture and biological
fitness
become a key approach in the repertoire of the plant
breeder. The genetic diversity of cassava in the great 50
lakes region of Africa is poorly understood. Landraces 40
from Uganda, Western Kenya and Rwanda were analyzed % reason for 30
choice
Y
20
for genetic diversity using SSR markers. Farmers in Rwanda Uganda
10
have the highest 0 Kenya
Materials and Methods desire for high Y PR
NV EM
yielding cultivars AV ST Rwanda
287 farmers interviewed & Data was collected & Y = Yield; PR = Pest resistance; NV = New variety; EM = Early maturing; AV = Availability & ST = Storability
466 cultivars phenotyped analyzed on:
Cassava Variety selection by farmers based on culinary qualities
• Farmers cassava selection
criteria based on: 40
35
1. Plant biological fitness 30
25
2. Culinary qualities % of farmers 20 U
15
• Genomic SSR diversity Majority of Farmers in 10
Kenya select for bread 5 Uganda
0
quality; in Rwanda 1 Kenya
2 3
select for Sweetness & 4 5 6
in Uganda are diverse Traits Rwanda
1 = Sweetness; 2 = Brewing; 3 = Chips, 4 = Bread (Flour); 5 = Vegetable; 6 = Boiling
466 leaf sample collected for SSR analyses
0.01
Cassava cultivars in Rwanda are
genetically distinct from Uganda and
Capillary sequencer / Kenya Uganda Kenya Rwanda
ABI3730
Conclusion and Recommendations
There is sufficient genetic diversity of cassava that can be used to
enhance breeding and conservation in East African Region.
DNA extraction Reference
Fregene et al. (2003). Theoretical and applied Genetics. 106(6): 1083-1093
PCR amplicons tested
Acknowledgement
Ginés Mera Fellowship
Fund, Code: C – 055 – 06