Informative SSR markers for commercial variety discrimination in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)

SSR markers were used for variety discrimination and genetic assessment in watermelon varieties. Genetic characterization of 49 watermelon varieties was investigated using 30 SSR markers developed from melon and watermelon. A total of 121 polymorphic amplified fragments were obtained by using 30 SSR markers. The average polymorphism information content (PIC) was 0.502 ranging from 0.223 to 0.800. One hundred twenty one SSR loci were used to calculate Jaccard’s distance coefficients for unweighted pair group method using the arithmetic averages (UPGMA) cluster analysis. A clustering group of varieties, based on the results of SSR analysis, were categorized into 5 major groups corresponding to morphological traits. Inheritance mode of 2 SSR markers was investigated to F₁ plants and F₂ populations of 2 crosses. Parental alleles were transmitted from F1 plants and F2 populations. Therefore, these marker sets may prove to be effectively applicable to genetic assessment of germplasm, genome mapping, and fingerprinting of watermelon varieties.