APPLICATION OF SSR MARKERS TO ASSESS POLYMORPHISM AND GENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF (Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R.Br. ex Sm., Gymnema yunnanense Tsiang, Gymnema latifolium Wall. ex Wight) ACCESSIONS CONSERVED IN VIETNAM

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the genetic diversity and determine the relationships among 15 samples of Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R.Br. ex Sm., Gymnema yunnanense Tsiang, Gymnema latifolium Wall. ex Wight conserved in Vietnam using 24 SSR markers. Total DNA was extracted from young leaves and amplified by PCR with SSR primers. Polymorphic PCR products were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The analysis of the genetic similarity matrix (Jaccard's coefficient) revealed that the similarity levels ranged from 0.08 (between M3 and M12) to 0.56 (between M4 and M6), with an average value of 0.28, reflecting considerable genetic diversity within the sample population. The dendrogram constructed using the UPGMA method divided the 15 samples into two main groups at a similarity level of approximately 0.25 - 0.28. Group I comprised 11 samples (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M8, M10, M11, M13, M15) and Group II consisted of 4 samples (M7, M9, M12, M14), with smaller subgroups showing clear genetic differentiation. Sample pairs with high similarity M4 - M6: 0.56; M1 - M5: 0.53 and low similarity M3 - M12: 0.08 were identified. The research findings provide important scientific data on the genetic resources of Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R.Br. ex Sm., Gymnema yunnanense Tsiang and Gymnema latifolium Wall. ex Wight in Vietnam, serving as a basis for effective conservation, management, utilization, and orientation for future breeding programs.