Genetic Variation of Common Millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) Collected from East Asia Based on Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs)

This study was conducted to evaluate the genetic variation for 75 accessions of common millet collected from Korea, Japan, and China. Genetic diversity analysis was performed on 75 accessions from Korea, Japan, and China using 9 SSR primers. A total of 30 alleles was identified with an average of 3.33 alleles per locus. The GD values measured in these groups ranged from 0.127 to 0.377 with an average of 0.266. The PIC values ranged from 0.124-0.347 with an average of 0.245. The Chinese common millet accessions showed higher genetic diversity than the Korean and Japanese accessions. From the analysis of population structure using the software program STRUCTURE 2.2, the 75 common millet accessions divided into two groups because the highest value of ΔK values was revealed for K = 2. Group I included 40 Korean accessions, and Group II included 14 Korean accessions, 12 Japanese accessions, and 9 Chinese accessions. The UPGMA phylogenetic tree revealed that the 75 common millet accessions were clustered into three major groups. The clustering patterns did not permit any clear distinction of the accessions of common millet collected in East Asia. The results of genetic diversity, genetic relationships, and population structure in the 75 common millet accessions from Korea, Japan, and China identified in this study will provide useful information for the development of common millet breeding lines and breeding programs and also genetic resource conservation strategies in Korea.