Genetic characterization of some sainfoin lines by microsatellite (SSR) markers

Onobrychis viciifolia Scop. (sainfoin) has been adapted to different ecological regions and cultivated especially in Central and Eastern Anatolia. Sainfoin is a forage plant with important properties such as rich protein content, easy growing in arid and calcareous soils, and also resistant to different abiotic stress conditions. In this thesis, characterization of 83 sainfoin lines was performed by using 10 SSR primers (OVK036, OVK046, OVK094, OVK101, OVK125, OVK161, OVK174, OVM033, OVM061, and OVM125). All SSR loci used in our study were found to be polymorphic. A total of 92 alleles were detected for 10 SSR loci. The mean observed number of alleles was calculated as 9.2. Among the genetic diversity parameters, Shannon Index (I=0.375), unbiased genetic diversity value (uh=0.243) and mean polymorphic information content (PIC=0.240) were calculated. Dendrograms were built by UPGMA clustering method using genetic distance values and it was observed that the studied sainfoin lines were divided into two main clusters. The results obtained from our study provide significant information about the genetic structures of the studied sainfoin lines. Genetic data obtained from our study will contribute to sainfoin breeding studies and gain new varieties to agriculture.