The molecular characterization of an extended mulberry germplasm by SSR markers

The objective of this work is the molecular characterization using nuclear SSR markers of different mulberry (Morus alba L.) cultivars from different countries including Cuba, Costa Rica, Brazil, South Korea, Ethiopia, China, Japan, Italy and Spain to deep in the dissemination through the world of this species. Results established the value of SSR markers for distinguishing different genetic lineages and characterize an extensive and largely gene pool available to mulberry cultivars. The results revealed the presence of 53 different alleles from the 12 SSR analysed in the 37 assayed genotypes. The Japanese, Italian and Spanish cultivars formed a separated group in which only 5 genotypes were present in the Cuban germplasm bank. On the other hand the Cuban cultivars ‘Cuba 2’ and ‘Cuba 3’ propagated from Chinese parents were grouped in the same branch, which suggests that these cultivars retain the genomic characteristics of their selection. It was also possible to relate the genotypes of cultivars ‘Tigriada’ and ‘Acorazonada’ present in Costa Rica as well as to evaluate other cultivars for their use in silkworm feeding. Molecular results also evidenced the dissemination of the cultivated mulberry specie from China around the world, the introduction in South Korea and Japan in the first dissemination step and the later wide dissemination of modern mulberry to the Mediterranean area and later to South America and the Caribe area.