title: Genetic Diversity of Cultivated Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) and Its Relation to the World's Agro-ecological Zones.
abstract: Assessment of genetic diversity and population structure of germplasm collections plays a critical role in supporting conservation and crop genetic enhancement strategies. We used a cultivated lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) collection consisting of 352 accessions originating from 54 diverse countries to estimate genetic diversity and genetic structure using 1194 polymorphic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers which span the lentil genome. Using principal coordinate analysis, population structure analysis and UPGMA cluster analysis, the accessions were categorized into three major groups that prominently reflected geographical origin (world's agro-ecological zones). The three clusters complemented the origins, pedigrees, and breeding histories of the germplasm. The three groups were (a) South Asia (sub-tropical savannah), (b) Mediterranean, and (c) northern temperate. Based on the results from this study, it is also clear that breeding programs still have considerable genetic diversity to mine within the cultivated lentil, as surveyed South Asian and Canadian germplasm revealed narrow genetic diversity.
authors: Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
authors: Hamid
authors: H
authors: Khazaei
authors: Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
authors: Carolyn T
authors: CT
authors: Caron
authors: Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Fedoruk
authors: Department of Plant Sciences, University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SK, Canada; London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food CanadaLondon, ON, Canada.
authors: Marwan
authors: M
authors: Diapari
authors: Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
authors: Albert
authors: A
authors: Vandenberg
authors: USDA-ARS Pullman, WA, USA.
authors: Clarice J
authors: CJ
authors: Coyne
authors: USDA-ARS Pullman, WA, USA.
authors: Rebecca
authors: R
authors: McGee
authors: Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
authors: Kirstin E
authors: KE
authors: Bett
keywords: SNP markers; agro-ecological zones; genetic diversity; germplasm; lentil; population structure