ASSESSING ORIGIN AND GENETIC DIVERSITY OF CHONGMING SPINACH BASED ON MORPHOLOGICAL AND SSR MARKERS

Abstract

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is an important leafy vegetable that is rich in essential nutrients. In this study, 42 spinach accessions from various countries and regions were analyzed to assess their genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships using morphological traits and SSR markers. A total of 198 alleles were amplified with 57 pairs of SSR primers, demonstrating a high level of polymorphism. Based on SSR data, the accessions were clustered into two major groups: Clade I consisted mainly of accessions from northern China, Russia, Europe, and America, while Clade II included accessions from Shanghai, southern China, and East Asia. Notably, accessions accessions from northern and southern China were clearly separated, suggesting distinct genetic origins. Furthermore, a fingerprinting database was established using nine core SSR markers. Among these, three primers (primer 9, 40, and 46) successfully distinguished three Chongming local accessions (B26, B35, and B40). This study provides insights into the genetic diversity and geographical differentiation of spinach germplasm, thereby supporting conservation efforts for local varieties and facilitating future spinach breeding programs.