ABSTRACT Trifolium polymorphum Poir. is an amphicarpic forage legume from southern Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and Chile. Information on the genetic diversity of natural populations in natural grasslands in southern Brazil is limited. In order to increase the knowledge about this species, an analysis of the genetic diversity was carried out in 10 natural populations of T. polymorphum with the use of 20 microsatellite markers. The expected heterozygosity in T. polymorphum populations ranged from 0.40 to 0.43, with a mean of 0.42. A total of 193 alleles were detected with a mean of 9.3 alleles per locus and polymorphic information content (PIC) for these markers of 0.62 to 0.89 with a mean of 0.84.The grouping based on the Jaccard’s coefficient of similarity classified populations, regardless of their regions of origin, into two groups with a mean similarity coefficient of 0.32, reflecting the high genetic variability of the populations, especially those located in the Campanha phytogeographic region. This information on diversity can be used to plan future germplasm collection strategies for conservation purposes and also for the breeding of the species.

O objetivo neste trabalho foi analisar a diversidade genética de 14 materiais de Lotus corniculatus L. por meio de marcadores microssatélites. Foram analisados quatro cultivares e uma população de L. corniculatus e seus respectivos genótipos selecionados visando tolerância e sensibilidade ao alumínio. Foram utilizados 17 pares de primers que detectaram 36 alelos nos 17 locos microssatélites, com média de 2,25 alelos por loco. O resultado da análise de agrupamento com base nos índices de similaridade mostrou a formação de três grupos: um englobando germoplasmas e genótipos selecionados para sensibilidade ao alumínio e outros dois formados por genótipos selecionados visando tolerância ao alumínio tóxico. A análise molecular foi eficiente para detectar e quantificar a variabilidade entre os genótipos, acrescentando informações úteis ao programa de melhoramento. O uso de marcadores microssatélites permite a distinção de genótipos oriundos de um programa de seleção visando tolerância à toxidez por alumínio. As seleções realizadas originam genótipos polimórficos em relação às populações originais.

The aim of this work was to analyze the genetic diversity of 14 Lotus corniculatus L. materials through microsatellite markers. Four cultivars and one population of L. corniculatus and their respective genotypes selected were analyzed aiming aluminium tolerance and sensibility. The 17 markers used detected a total of 36 alleles, with an average of 2.25 alleles per locus. The result of the similarity analyses showed the formation of three groups: one enclosing germplasm and selected genotypes for aluminium sensibility, while the other two groups were formed by selected genotypes for aluminium tolerance. The molecular analysis was efficient in detecting and quantifying the variability among the genotypes, adding useful information to the breeding program. The utilization of microsatellite markers permitted the distinction of genotypes originated from a selection program aiming aluminium tolerance. The performed selections originate polymorphic genotypes in relation to the original populations.