Agrotechnology

Genetic diversity of the cactus pear (Opuntia spp) in Morocco as revealed by morphological descriptors and molecular markers

4^th International Conference on Agriculture & Horticulture

July 13-15, 2015 Beijing, China

Youssef El Kharrassi1,2, My Hassan Sedra2, Mouaad Amine Mazri2, El Houssine El Mzouri2 and BoubkerNasser1

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: Agrotechnol

Abstract:

The genus Opuntia is originated from the arid and semi-arid regions of Mexico and has more than 1,500 species worldwide. It plays important socio-economic and environmental roles and is used for human consumption, for its beneficial effects on health (anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-diabetes and anti-oxidant effects among others), as fodder and for the manufacture of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. In Morocco, the cactus has an area of 120 000 ha; however, the genetic diversity of its species has never been studied. In this work, we evaluated the genetic diversity of 124 Opuntia accessions using 10 morphological descriptors. The accessions belong to 7 species: O. ficusindica; O. megacantha; O. robusta; O. aequatorialis; O. dillenii; O. leucotricha and O. inermis; and were collected from 8 regions of Morocco. Our results showed a great similarity between accessions. Thus, a molecular study was carried out with ISSR and RAPD markers. Molecular markers have generated 72 bands, 70 were polymorphic. The dendrogram produced by the UPGMA method showed the presence of 7 groups, which was confirmed by principal component analysis. Our results revealed a high genetic similarity between O. ficusindica and O. megacantha and will be very useful for genetic breeding and conservation programs.

Biography :

Youssef El Kharrassi is a PhD Student, and he is 29 years old doing a thesis in cotuelle between the University of Burgundy Faculty of Gabriel Sciences Dijon France and Hassan 1st University Faculty of Science and Technology of Settat Morocco. He is also a Researcher at the National Institute of Agronomic Research Settat Morocco. He has published more than 3 papers in reputed journals.