Genetic variation in rice (Oryza sativa L.) germplasm from northern Laos.

We assessed genetic variation in rice germplasm in northern Laos and Vientiane province from polymorphism data of SSR markers. We classified 314 accessions into three clusters; Ia (corresponding to the lowland Japonica Group), Ib (upland Japonica Group) and II (Indica Group). The accessions of cluster Ib grew mainly in mountainous fields, and those of cluster II grew commonly in basins and along rivers. The few accessions of cluster Ia grew in only three provinces: Houaphanh, Xiangkhouang and Vientiane. Lowland cultivars in cluster II were predominant in Vientiane. Variations in heading date under short-day conditions in 2014 and long-day conditions in 2015 indicate that many accessions were sensitive to the photoperiod on account of complex genetic mechanisms underlying both photoperiod sensitivity and basic vegetative growth. A total of 219 among whole accessions were classified into 6 groups: E1-3 and L1-3. E2 and E3 were dominant in clusters Ib and II; E1 and L1-3 were minor groups. These results demonstrate characteristic distributions of the Indica and Japonica Group's germplasms in northern Laos and their genetic variation in heading date.