GENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF LOCAL COMMON BEAN LANDRACES FROM BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA AND REFERENCE CULTIVARS USING SSR MARKERS – INSIGHTS INTO DIVERSITY AND STRUCTURE

Abstract

This aim of this study was to analyze the genetic diversity and structure of 39 common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) accessions (35 landraces and four reference cultivars) maintained at the Gene Bank of the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), using 10 SSR markers. The analysis identified 77 alleles, averaging 7.7 alleles per locus. The calculated expected heterozygosity (HE) was relatively high, with a mean of 0.719, whereas the observed heterozygosity (HO) was low, averaging 0.033. These results reflect the self-pollinating nature of the analyzed plant species. The polymorphic information content (PIC) values indicate that the SSR markers used in this study, especially PVat007, BM143, and GATS91, are highly informative. STRUCTURE analysis identified three major genetic clusters (K = 3), supported by the ΔK method and further validated through factorial correspondence analysis (FCA). While most accessions were distinctly assigned to specific clusters, a small number exhibited admixed ancestry. Several local landraces clustered closely with reference cultivars, suggesting a complex gene flow and selection history. These findings highlight the significant genetic variability among Bosnia-Herzegovina's landraces and their potential importance for conservation and breeding efforts.