Molecular marker analysis of genetic variation characterizing a grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.) collection from central Italy.

Abstract Levels of genetic similarity characterizing 20 grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.) populations collected in central Italy (17 populations in the Marche region and three populations in the Abruzzo region) were analysed with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) molecular markers. Two main clusters were found: one included large-seeded populations from farms that were not market-oriented (named Household populations) and the second, small-seeded populations, cultivated in market-oriented farms (named Commercial populations). Relationships among populations collected in different regions were found, although one population of the Abruzzo region was placed between the two main clusters, suggesting a possible further genetic differentiation within this grasspea germplasm collection. Principal component analysis based on AFLP marker frequency was effective in identifying polymorphic markers showing high discriminating ability between clusters H and C. In particular, seven markers showing high positive and three markers with low negative PC1 scores showed an almost cluster-specific distribution. These results will be useful for enhancing Italian grasspea germplasm use in plant-breeding programmes and for extending grasspea cultivation within the sustainable agricultural systems of central Italy.