GENETIC DIVERSITY STUDIES ON WILD AND CULTIVATED GENOTYPES OF TIGER NUTS (CYPERUS SPECIES) USING MOLECULAR AND MORPHOLOGICAL MARKERS

Godwin Michael Ubi, Uno Florence Ben, Ekpeyong Blessing Bassey and Ofem Effiong Ofem*

Research was carried out to investigate into the diversity existing between wild and cultivated Tiger nuts genotypes using morphological and molecular markers. Three genotypes of cultivated (Black, Brown and Yellow) Tiger nuts and two of wild (Black and brown) gentypes were sourced from ARTI, Zaria, Kaduna state. The genotypes were subjected to molecular analysis using apical leaf portions for extraction of DNA using the CTAB method, amplification of the rbcl gene using PCR and gel electrophoresis using nanodrop spectrophotometer. The Tiger nuts genotypes were also planted out in the field using CRD. Growth and yield data were obtained for all genotypes. The data generated from molecular and morphological attributes were subjected to statistical and genetic analysis using GENALex software and GENSTAT v 12. The results of the present study had shown that the wild and cultivated Tiger nuts differed significantly in their growth and yield attributes as well as in their molecular attributes. Three principal components contributed to 100 % of total variations that existed in the population of wild and cultivated total nuts. The molecular bands showed that the wild and cultivated black Tiger nuts were amplified by 800bps while other genotypes were amplified at 100bps by the rbcl primer. The polymorphic information content also varied and high in the rbcl primer. Heterozygousity was also high and as well as the Nei‟s gene diversity informativeness of the genotypes was greatly revealed by the markers.