Assessing Morphological and Genetic Variation in Annatto (Bixa orellana L.) by Sequence-related Amplified Polymorphism and Cluster Analysis

Abstract

<jats:p>Annatto (<jats:italic>Bixa orellana</jats:italic> L.) is the sole source of bixin, a seed-specific red apocarotenoid pigment used worldwide. Genetic improvement of annatto has focused on increasing bixin content as well as fostering traits that favor higher content such as pod indehiscence and flower color, among others. Eighty-seven samples collected from two separate important agricultural regions of the southeast of Mexico were characterized morphologically and analyzed genetically for the first time. The sequence-related amplified polymorphism was used for genetic analysis. Two-step cluster analysis of the individuals based on morphological traits produced three groups: one containing individuals with desired morphological characteristics and two others with complementary traits. Like the morphological analysis, the genetic analysis indicated high genetic variation, although the dendrogram based on Nei and Li's similarity coefficient showed them to be dispersed by collection site. However, calculated similarity index values indicated all individuals exhibited high genetic variation. The results are an important advance toward a more effective genetic improvement of annatto because crosses between the different morphological and/or genetic groups described here have the potential to produce a recombination of desired traits in hybrid offspring.</jats:p>

Musa Genetic Diversity Revealed by SRAP and AFLP

“…It has several advantages over other molecular marker systems such as simplicity, reasonable throughput rate, disclosure of numerous co-dominant markers, ease of isolation of bands for sequencing and, most importantly, targeting of open reading frames (ORFs) [13]. SRAP has been used in other plant species, e.g., in Cucurbita pepo L. [14], Bixa orellana L. [15], sugarcane [16], or wheat [17]. Phothipan et al [18] used SRAP and RAPD molecular markers to study the genetic relationship amongst M. acuminata, M. balbisiana and plantains.…”

Collection and morphological characterization of 149 accessions of achiote (Bixa orellana L.) from seven departments in Perú

“…Quantitative ( Table 2) and qualitative ( Table 3) descriptors reported by Arce (1999) were used to characterize achiote fruit and seeds. These descriptors have been used previously in similar studies (Valdez-Ojeda et al, 2008). In addition, we also used other descriptors (López et al, 2018) such as capsule thickness, weight of seeds per capsule, seed length, and seed diameter.…”

Floral, reproductive biology and morphological variation in annatto (Bixa orellana L.)

“…There is an urgent need to develop high yielding varieties, precision cultivation techniques and value addition techniques in the natural dye yielding plant species viz., Annatto (Bixa orellana L.) and the farmers should be encouraged to cultivate more profitable natural dye yielding plants instead of water intensive commercial crops. As the annatto dye and seed yield vary from sample to sample and plant to plant (Valdez-Ojeda et al ., 2008), and due to its economic potential, to accelerate the breeding programs, the present study aims to characterize the floral, reproductive biology and morphological variation of annatto followed by breeding of specifically selected parent plants.…”