Assessing the genetic diversity of 48 groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) genotypes in the Guinea savanna agro-ecology of Ghana, using microsatellite-based markers

Abstract

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is the most important grain legume in Ghana. However, its production is constrained by a myriad of biotic and abiotic stresses which necessitate the development and use of superior varieties for increased yield. Germplasm characterisation both at the phenotypic and molecular level is important in all plant breeding programs. The aim of this study was to characterise selected advanced breeding groundnut lines with different phenotypic attributes at the molecular level using simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers in Ghana. A total of 53 SSR markers were screened and 25 were found to be polymorphic with an average polymorphic information content (PIC) value of 0.57. Of the 48 groundnut genotypes studied, 67% showed very close relationship (~100% similarity) with one or more genotypes among themselves. In fact, there were 14 instances where two to three genotypes within the same sub-cluster exhibited 100% similarity even though they displayed different phenotypic attributes. The remaining 33% of the groundnut genotypes were distant from each other and could therefore serve as effective parental material for future work. In this study, the SSR-based markers were found to be quite discriminatory in discerning variations between and among groundnut lines even where the level of variation was low. Microsatellite-based markers therefore represent a useful tool for dissecting genetic variations in cultivated crops, especially groundnut.

Microbiological Assessment of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Sold for Consumption in Ghana

“…Tsigbey et al [1] reported that in a typical farming community in Northern Ghana, about 90% of farm families engaged in groundnut cultivation. Oteng-Frimpong et al [2] also found that about 70% of groundnuts produced in Ghana are concentrated in the northern regions of Ghana. Te cultivation is carried out on both commercial and subsistence bases.…”

“…Tese genera include Staphylococcus (S. aureus, S. saprophyticus, and S. epidermidis), Proteus (P. vulgaris, P. myxofaciens, P. hauseri, P. mirabilis, and P. penneri), Escherichia (E. coli O157), Bacillus (Bacillus cereus, B. subtilis, B licheniformis, B. larvae, B. lentimorbus, B. popilliae, and B. sphaericus), and Micrococcus (M. roseus and M. luteus). Table 3 shows the bacterial contaminant 1Values are means of triplicate determinations from three independent trials; ± � standard deviation; TCC � total coliform count; TVC � total viable counts; BS � Bolgatanga sample; NS � Navrongo sample; GS � Bongo sample; CS � Chiana sample 2. Means with the same letter as superscript in a column are signifcantly diferent (P < 0.05).…”

“…Microbiology of unshelled boiled groundnuts sold for consumption (Log 10 cfu/g). � standard deviation; ND � not determined; TCC � total coliform count; TVC � total viable counts; BS � Bolgatanga sample; NS � Navrongo sample; GS � Bongo sample; CS � Chiana sample 2. Means with the same letters as superscripts in a column are signifcantly diferent (P < 0.05).…”

Characterization of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Test Locations Using Representative Testing Environments With Farmer-Preferred Traits

“…Although Africa holds the maximum global area under groundnut cultivation (i.e., 11.7 m ha representing 47.56% of total area cultivated). Meanwhile, its yield are very low (929 kg ha −1 ) compared with that of the Americas (3,632 kg ha −1 ) (Ajeigbe et al, 2015) due to a myriad of biotic and abiotic stresses (Oteng-Frimpong et al, 2015). This has resulted in a series of interventions aimed at improving pod yields on farmers' fields.…”