title: Selection  of high heterozygosity popcorn varieties in Brazil based on SSR markers.
abstract: We analyzed genetic structure and  diversity among eight populations of popcorn, using SSR loci as genetic  markers. Our objectives were to select SSR loci that could be used to estimate  genetic diversity within popcorn populations, and to analyze the genetic  structure of promising populations with high levels of heterozygosity that  could be used in breeding programs. Fifty-seven alleles (3.7 alleles per locus)  were detected; the highest effective number of alleles (4.21) and the highest  gene diversity (0.763) were found for the Umc2226 locus. A very high  level of population differentiation was found (F(ST) = 0.3664), with F(ST) for each locus ranging from 0.1029 (Umc1664) to 0.6010 (Umc2350).  This analysis allowed us to identify SSR loci with high levels of  heterozygosity and heterozygous varieties, which could be selected for  production of inbred lines and for developing new cultivars.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Celular e Genética, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: I B O
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Eloi
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mangolin
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Scapim
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: M F P S
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Machado
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D001938:Brazil; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D056426:Genetic Loci / Q000235:genetics; D005819:Genetic Markers; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006579:Heterozygote; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers