Accumulation of mutations in genes associated with sexual reproduction contributed to the domestication of a vegetatively propagated staple crop, enset

摘要: Enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) is a drought tolerant, vegetatively propagated crop that was domesticated in Ethiopia. It staple food for more than 20 million people Despite its current importance and immense potential, enset among the most genetically understudied underexploited crops. We collected 230 wild cultivated accessions across main producing regions Ethiopia applied amplified fragment length polymorphism genotype by sequencing (GBS) methods to these accessions. Wild were clearly separated from each other, with 89 genes found harbour SNPs Among these, 17 are thought be involved flower initiation seed development. accessions, differentiation mostly associated geographical location proximity populations. Our results indicate vegetative propagation of elite clones has favoured capacity growth at expense sexual reproduction. This consistent previous reports tends produce non-viable seeds flowers less frequent enset.