Population structure and genetic diversity analysis in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) germplasm using SSR markers

In the present study, population structure and genetic diversity were studied among 100 faba bean germplasm lines along with three checks using 29 SSR (microsatellite) markers and morphological traits. ET218734, ET226572, and ET218734 genotypes exhibited maximum seed yield and high mean performance for various yield-attributing traits. The D² statistics analysis grouped genotypes into five clusters. SSR marker analysis revealed, on average, 2 alleles per locus ranging from 2 to 3 among the studied genotypes. Polymorphic information content (PIC) for these markers ranged from 0.063 to 0.492 with an average of 0.37. Population structure analysis classified the studied genotypes into three major clusters. The Molecular Diversity Distance was found to be greatest among Cluster III and Cluster I (0.289), while the lowest was among Cluster II and Cluster I (0.148). The allele frequency divergence (expected heterozygosity) was found highest on Cluster II (0.164), and the lowest was on Cluster III (0.096).