Assessing DNA sequence variation in Megathyrsus maximus: an exploratory survey for use in breeding programs
Antonieta A. Jesus, Luice G. Bueno, Geice R. Silva, Diego B. Galvani, Liana Jank, Lucimara Chiari, Mateus F. Santos and Fábio M. Diniz
Abstract: Distinguishing Megathyrsus maximus genotypes in breeding programs based on morphological traits alone can be challenging. Thus, this study proposes the utilization of molecular traits to identify genetic differences and understand the characteristics of these genotypes. Twenty-four genotypes were sequenced, resulting in 341 bases within the trnL-trnF spacer and 459 bases from ITS2 sequences. These sequences were head-to-tail concatenated and analyzed for phylogenetic diversity. Substitution saturation analysis confirmed the sequences’ suitability for phylogenetic reconstruction, as ISS value (0.0279) was significantly lower than its critical value (ISS.c = 0.7523). Both Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian Inference analyses yielded consistent results with most nodes showing support above 99%. PCoA analysis demonstrated a clustering pattern consistent with the phylogenetic tree, identifying two distinct groups with clear separation. Approximately 82% of the total variance was explained by the PCoA. The obtained genetic information serves as a valuable resource for developing M. maximus markers.