Genetic diversity among elite sorghum inbred lines assessed with simple sequence repeats

DNA markers are being increasingly utilized in cultivar development, qualit y control of seed production, measurement of genetic diversity for conserva tion management, varietal identity, and to assist in maintenance of intelle ctual property protection (IPP). The use of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) for variety profiling can provide high discrimination, with excellent repro ducibility at less cost than for restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs), The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential utility of SSR technology for applications in research, product development, reed p roduction, and genetic resource conservation management for sorghum, Fifty genetically diverse elite sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L,) Moench] inbreds wer e used to compare the discrimination abilities of 15 SSR primers with 104 R FLPs and to compare the associations among lines revealed by these molecula r data and by pedigrees. RFLP data allowed all lines to be uniquely identif ied; two lines could not be distinguished by the SSR data. The mean polymor phism information content (PIC) values were 0.62 (RFLPs) and 0.58 (SSRs), C orrelations for pairwise molecular profile distances with pedigree distance s among the maintainer female (B) lines were 0.52 and 0.53 for RFLP and SSR data, respectively; data for the male parental restorer (R) lines were 0.4 1 and 0.47. This set of SSRs could be used to help genetic conservation man agement and to support IPP, Data from additional SSRs that collectively cov er more of the genome will he required for applications to assist in breedi ng.