Genomic insights into the diversity of mango cultivars in Saudi Arabia: Fluorescent SSR marker analysis

Objectives

This study presents a comprehensive genetic analysis of twelve mango cultivars from Saudi Arabia, investigating their genetic diversity, population structure, and potential loci under selection.

Methods

Utilizing ten SSR loci, we conducted a thorough assessment of allele variation, revealing diverse patterns across loci and defined genetic diversity among cultivars.

Results

Notably, certain loci exhibited extensive allele diversity, with Loci M02 and M06 displaying five and seven alleles, respectively, while others showed more limited profiles, such as Locus M01 with only two alleles. Surprisingly, clustering patterns based on genetic relatedness did not consistently align with anticipated geographic groupings, suggesting additional factors influencing genetic structure beyond geography. Further analysis of allele sharing provided insights into the genetic relatedness among cultivars, highlighting both close genetic affinities and significant divergence. Subsequent Allele Sharing Matrix analysis unveiled sub-clustering within clusters, revealing finer-scale genetic structures within the population. Assessment of genetic differentiation using Analysis of Molecular Variance demonstrated significant variations among clusters and individuals, with variations among clusters ranging from 3% to 53%. Additionally, testing for loci under selection identified potential markers, such as locus M11, with observed heterozygosity greater than expected (1.024) and a relatively low observed FST value of 0.2695.

Conclusions

Overall, our findings contribute to the characterization of mango genetic resources in Saudi Arabia, providing crucial information for breeding programs, germplasm conservation efforts, and agricultural practices. By leveraging advanced genomic technologies and interdisciplinary collaborations, future research can delve deeper into the genetic basis of adaptive traits and agronomic characteristics, paving the way for innovative strategies to enhance mango production and sustainability in Saudi Arabia.