Open Access

ARTICLE

Morphological and molecular characterization of populations of plains bristlegrass (Setaria macrostachya Kunth) in Chihuahua, México

Morales-Nieto CR¹, C Avendaño-Arrazate², A Melgoza-Castillo¹, M Martinez-Salvador³, P Jurado-Guerra⁴

1 Facultad de Zootecnia y Ecología Km 1 Perif. Francisco R. Aldama, CP 3103, Chihuahua Chih. Doctor en Ciencias en Genética.
2 Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP). C. E. Rosario Izapa, Chiapas. Doctor en Ciencias en Genética.
3 INIFAP. Campo Experimental La Campana. Km 33.3 Carretea Chihuahua-Ojinaga. Doctor en Ciencias Forestales.
4 INIFAP. Campo Experimental La Campana. Km 33.3 Carretea Chihuahua-Ojinaga. Doctor en Ciencias en Pastizales.

* Corresponding Author:Address Correspondence to: Carlos Avendaño Arrazate, Campo Experimental Rosario Izapa. Km 18 carretera Tapachula-Cacahoatán C.P. 30870 Tuxtla Chico, Chiapas México

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2015, 84(1), 190-200. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2015.84.190

Abstract

Plains bristlegrass (Setaria macrostachya Kunth) is a native grass with forage value. However, due to the lack of grazing management practices, populations and thus genetic diversity, have been reduced. Morphological and genetic variability were analyzed on 44 populations of plains bristlegrass in the State of Chihuahua. Plants were transplanted in a common area under natural conditions. Two years later, morphological characterization was evaluated measuring nine variables, and genetic variability using AFLP molecular markers. The principal components analysis (PC) showed that the three first principal components explained 73.74% of the variation. The variables with the greatest contribution to the variance in PC1 were plant height and inflorescence length; in CP2, tiller number and leaf width; and in PC3, tiller thickness. Application of four pairs of primers, presented 186 total bands, from which 87.10% showed polymorphism and 12.90% monomorphism. The combination of EcoRI-AGG MseI-CAG primers detected the highest percentage (93%) of polymorphism with 40 polymorphic bands. The cluster analysis and Dice coefficient indicated that populations clump into two groups. The wide genetic variability and morphological characteristics detected among populations represent the basis for the selection of populations that could be used with different purposes in the rehabilitation of ecosystems. In addition, this study will allow establishment of in situ conservation strategies.

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