Analysis of Diversity among Potato Accessions Grown in Eritrea Using Single Linkage Clustering

Tadesse  Mehari; Biniam Mesfin  Ghebreslassie; S. Mwangi  Githiri; Remmy W.  Kasili

doi:10.4236/ajps.2015.613213

Biniam Mesfin Ghebreslassie^1,2, S. Mwangi Githiri², Tadesse Mehari¹, Remmy W. Kasili³

Abstract: Potato is an important cash and food crop, a source of income to many small scale farmers in Eritrea. In the long tradition of potato cultivation farmers have adopted a number of landraces. However, very little is known about their genetic diversity which limits further breeding programs to improve productivity. The objective of the study was to characterize potato accessions grown in Eritrea. A total of 21 accessions collected from farmers and NARI were used in this study for characterization employing 33 phenotypic descriptors. Single linkage (nearest neighbor) clustering method using UPGMA employing Euclidean test was used to yield a dendrogram. The clustering generated three main clusters with further sub clusters. The clustering helped to identify accessions that shared the same characteristics and/or that were closely related and vice versa. It was noted that there was no distinct relationship between the clusters groups and geographic sources of accession. Yet, accessions sharing the same name may not necessarily share the same genetic content. Mean deviation of variables for each group from the total mean indicated that Group III followed by group I showed negative deviation in most of the recorded yield related traits. Group I was particularly affected by the presence of two inferior accessions in the group. On the other hand, Group II accessions showed relatively maximum deviation from the total mean and could be recommended for use as parent for any breeding program in Eritrea.

Keywords: Solanum tuberosum, Potato, Eritrea, Morphological Traits, Cluster, Diversity

Cite this paper: Ghebreslassie, B. , Githiri, S. , Mehari, T. and Kasili, R. (2015) Analysis of Diversity among Potato Accessions Grown in Eritrea Using Single Linkage Clustering. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 6, 2122-2127. doi: 10.4236/ajps.2015.613213.

References

[1] Biniam, M.G., Githiri, S.M., Tadesse, M. and Kasili, R.W. (2014) Diagnostic Survey on Potato Production Practices in Eritrea. ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science, 9, 444-453.

[2] Bereketsahay, T. (2000) Potato Production in Eritrea: Prospects for Future Development. Proceedings of the 5th Triennial Congress of African Potato Association, Kampala, 29 May-2 June 2000.

[3] FAOSTAT (2012)
http://www.faostat.org/

[4] Kaguongo, W., Gildemacher, P., Demo, P., Wagoire, W., Kinyae, P., Andrade, J., Forbes, G., Fuglie, K. and Thiele, G. (2008) Framer Practices and Adoption of Improved Potato Varieties in Kenya and Uganda. Social Sciences Working Paper 2008-5, International Potato Center (CIP), Lima, 85 p.

[5] Biniam, M.G., Githiri, S.M., Tadesse, M. and Kasili, R.W. (2014) Potato Seed Supply, Marketing and Production Constraints in Eritrea. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 5, 3684-3693.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2014.524384

[6] Kandemir, N., Yilmaz, G., Karan, Y.B. and Borazan, D. (2010) Isolation of Different Accessions in “Baçftlik Beyazi” Potato Landrace Using SSR Markers. Turkish Journal of Field Crops, 15, 84-88.

[7] Arslanoglu, F., Aytac, S. and OnerE, K. (2011) Morphological Characterization of the Local Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Genotypes Collected from the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. African Journal of Biotechnology, 10, 922-932.

[8] Mondal, M.A.A., Hossain, M.M., Rasul, M.G. and Uddin, M. S. (2007) Genetic Diversity in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Bangladesh Journal of Botany, 36, 121-125.

[9] Haydar, A., Ahmed, M.B., Hannan, M.M., Razvy, M.A., Mandal, M.A., Salahin, M., Karim, R. and Hossain, M. (2007) Analysis of Genetic Diversity in Some Potato Varieties Grown in Bangladesh. Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research, 2, 143-145.

[10] Huaman, Z., Williams, J.T., Salhuana, W. and Vincent, L. (1977) Descriptors for the Cultivated Potato and for the Maintenance and Distribution of Germplasm Collections. AGPE: IBPGR/77/32, International Board for Plant Genetic Resources, Rome.

[11] Lohani, M., Singh, D. and Singh, J.P. (2012) Genetic Diversity Assessment through Principal Component Analysis in Potato (Salamun tuberosun L.). Vegetable Science, 39, 207-209.

[12] Tairo, F., Mneney, E. and Kullaya, A. (2008) Morphological and Agronomical Characterization of Sweet Potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] Germplasm Collection from Tanzania. African Journal of Plant Science, 2, 77-85.

[13] Fongod, A.G.N., Mih, A.M. and Nkwatoh, T.N. (2012) Morphological and Agronomical Characterization of Different Accessions of Sweet Potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) in Cameroon. International Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Soil Science, 2, 234-245.

[14] Ahmadizadeh, M. and Felenji, H. (2011) Evaluating Diversity among Potato Cultivars Using Agro-Morphological and Yield Components in Fall Cultivation of Jiroft Area. American-Eurasian Journal of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, 11, 655-662.