Author(s)

Chimène N. M. Nanoukon^#*, Arlette Adjatin^#, Modeste Migan Tycko, Kamirou Chabi Sika, Adil Ganiou, Mindelle Da-Allada, Laurinzo Déguénon, Pamela Loumèdjinon, L. Gustave Djèdatin

Laboratory of Genetics, Biotechnology and Applied Botany, National School of Applied Biosciences and Biotechnologies, National University of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Dassa-Zoumè, Benin.

Petiveria alliacea is a uterotonic plant that effectively helps resolve uterine contractility abnormalities in traditional medicine. However, scientific knowledge of its diversity remains very limited to date. This study aimed to assess the transferability of eleven SSR markers from Phytolacca acinosa to Petiveria alliacea in order to evaluate its genetic diversity. Genomic DNA was extracted from 28 accessions of Petiveria alliacea sampled in southern Benin for PCR amplification using eleven pairs of SSR primers derived from Phytolacca acinosa. UPGMA and PCoA analyses were performed using NTSYS version 2.11a software to assess the genetic structure within the collection. Among the 11 markers studied, nine were transferable (81.82%), and six were polymorphic (54.55%). A total of 25 alleles were observed, with an average of 4.16 alleles per locus. The expected heterozygosity (He) ranged from 0.227 to 0.846, with an average of 0.633, while the observed heterozygosity (Ho) ranged from 0.150 to 1.000, with an average of 0.670. The mean fixation index (Fis) was −0.005. The dendrogram constructed using the UPGMA method revealed two main groups at a similarity rate of 73%, which further divided into four subgroups at a similarity rate of 65%. The studied collection exhibited high genetic diversity. It is therefore urgent that these data be used as a basis for establishing conservation and domestication programs to ensure the efficient and sustainable use of the species.

Petiveria alliacea, Phytolacca acinosa, Transferability, SSRs or Microsatellites, South Benin

Nanoukon, C. , Adjatin, A. , Tycko, M. , Sika, K. , Ganiou, A. , Da-Allada, M. , Déguénon, L. , Loumèdjinon, P. and Djèdatin, L. (2025) Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Petiveria alliacea in Southern Benin Using Transferable Microsatellite Markers. Open Journal of Genetics, 15, 21-38. doi: 10.4236/ojgen.2025.152003.