Assessing the genetic diversity of taro germplasm collection in Vietnam using simple sequence repeat markers

This study evaluated the genetic diversity of 253 taro (<i>Colocasia esculenta</i> (L.) Schott) germplasm accessions collected in Vietnam at the molecular level using 20 Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers. High genetic diversity in the taro germplasm accessions were detected with 100% polymorphic SSR loci, and 89 alleles were obtained at the 20 SSR loci with an average of 4.45 alleles per locus, of which 14 markers had high polymorphism (3 alleles/locus). Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) values obtained at 20 SSR loci ranged from 0.31 (Ce0078) to 0.85 (HK34), with an average of 0.65. The genetic similarity coefficient within the accessions ranged from 0.39 to 1.00. All 253 accessions were classified into 2 groups at a genetic similarity level of 0.60; one of the groups (group 2) was divided into 8 sub-groups at a genetic similarity level of 0.64. Some accessions (such as 28279 and SP-19-009; SP-19-061 and SP-19-023; 28278 and SP-19-006) with a high genetic similarity coefficient (1.00) showed a very close genetic relationship, while others (such as 10063 and 11544) with a low genetic similarity coefficient (0.39) showed a fairly distant genetic relationship. The study’s results provide a foundation for preserving and breeding taro in Vietnam. Five taro accessions (28211, SP-19-017, T.3578, T.3515, and 10098) carrying specific alleles that could be identified by 6 SSR markers (uq55–112, uq73–164, HK35, Ce0078, HK22, and HK31) were detected. Furthermore, the SSR marker approach showed the potential application in identifying genetic relationships and distinguishing different taro cultivars.