Diversity of Dioscorea bulbifera Linn in Uganda assessed by morphological markers and genotyping-by-sequencing technology (GBS)

Dioscorea bulbifera L. is a widely distributed plant in the humid and sub-humid tropics. The taxonomic treatment of this species ambiguous due to its extreme polymorphic morphological characters. Therefore, it imperative assess distribution, inter intraspecific variability relationships D. bulbifera. In study, genetic diversity distribution 41 accessions Uganda were investigated. Diversity among was assessed using accessions, descriptors SNP markers. To investigate relationship between individuals populations, heat map, phylogenetic tree, principal components analysis used. A total 221455432 paired-end raw reads generated out which 162662 loci called with 150 bp (2×150) targeted depth 112 million reads. Analysis data has proved heterogenous population an exception Abur that stand as homogenous populations. This study revealed utilization advanced sequencing techniques such GBS combination statistical robust method for evaluating complex crop aerial yam. Key words: Aerial yam (Dioscorea Linn), diversity, markers, Uganda.