ABSTRACT Some germplasm collections have a high number of accessions, which makes it difficult to explore the genetic variability present in the germplasm bank due to the redundancy and the difficulty of detailed analysis of all conserved accessions. Therefore, our study aimed to analyze the genetic diversity of 153 lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) accessions for the purpose of constructing a core collection. Eleven SSRs were used for this purpose. The 153 lima bean accessions can be represented by low redundancy using a minimum of 34 accessions, thus representing 22 % of the size of the entire germplasm bank. The core collection had a higher Shannon diversity index and expected heterozygosity (1.906 and 0.811, respectively) than those presented by the entire germplasm bank (1.605 and 0.713, respectively), indicating a higher polymorphism of the representative cultivars in relation to the entire collection. The accessions selected for the core collection may be used in future studies of genome association as well as in genetic crosses in breeding programs aimed at developing improved cultivars with high genetic diversity which can meet current and future market needs.

RESUMO: O alho é uma das hortaliças mais importantes no mercado brasileiro e mundial. No Piauí, mais especificamente na microrregião de Picos, o alho semi-nobre foi cultivado em larga escala e supria a demanda de vários municípios do estado. Devido à entrada do alho nobre no mercado brasileiro, houve redução na produção de alho semi-nobre que pode ter levado à perda de diversidade genética. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a diversidade genética em doze variedades de alho, sendo quatro de origem piauiense e oito da Coleção de Germoplasma de Alho da Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz" - Universidade de São Paulo (ESALQ/USP). Para isso, caracterizou-se o germoplasma com base nos descritores propostos pelo International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), atualmente Bioversity International, e realizou-se a genotipagem das variedades a partir de oito locos SSR. Os resultados obtidos com a análise morfológica corroboraram as análises moleculares, evidenciando complementaridade dessas dimensões de análise no estudo da diversidade genética em alho. Assim, conclui-se que existe divergência genética entre as variedades de alho estudadas em função da procedência do germoplasma e sugere-se que o material oriundo da ESALQ/USP trata-se de um germoplasma distinto do cultivado no Piauí. A divergência genética existente entre as variedades de alho no Piauí indica a possibilidade de seleção de genótipos superiores que aumentem a competitividade do alho piauiense frente ao alho importado.

ABSTRACT: Garlic is one of the most important crops in Brazil and in the world. In Piauí State, specifically in micro region of Picos, semi-noble garlic was once grown on a large scale and supplied the demand of various municipalities in the state. After the noble garlic was introduced to the Brazilian market, the production of semi-noble garlic reduced which may have led to loss of genetic diversity.This study investigated the genetic diversity in twelve varieties of garlic, four originally from Piauí State and eight from the Garlic Germplasm Collection of the College of Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz" - Universidade de São Paulo (ESALQ / USP). The present study characterized the germplasm based on descriptions proposed by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), currently Bioversity International, and conducted the genotyping of varieties from eight SSR loci. The agronomic characters and microsatellite genotyping were efficient to estimate genetic diversity among the garlic varieties. The results obtained with the morphological analysis corroborated the molecular analyses, demonstrating complementarity of these analyses dimensions in the study of genetic diversity in garlic. Thus, we concluded that genetic diversity exists among the varieties of garlic studied in terms of the germplasm origin and suggests that the material from the ESALQ / USP is a germplasm distinct from that grown in Piauí State. The genetic divergence among varieties of garlic in Piauí State indicates the possibility of selecting superior genotypes that increase the competitiveness of garlic from Piauí State against imported garlic.