Genetic variation of rice (Oryza sativa L.) germplasm in Cambodia.

Genetic variations of 179 rice (Oryza sativa L.) accessions from Cambodia were clarified based on the analyses for heading date, chromosome components, and blast resistance. The dominant accessions were found in three regions; early heading in North East (NE), medium in Central (CT), and late in South East (SE) along the Mekong River in the investigation at Ishigaki, Japan. In contrast, wide variations were observed in two regions, South West (SW) and North West (NW) located around Tonle Sap Lake. Polymorphism data of SSR markers showed that accessions were classified into Japonica Group (cluster Ib), and Indica Groups (IIa and IIb). In the NW and SW, the accessions of all three clusters were found, but these accessions in NE, CT, and SE, were limited to one or two clusters. Accessions were classified again into two clusters, A1 as having high resistance and A2 as having moderate resistance. Remarkable differences of these frequencies of clusters, A1 and A2, were found in the SE, SW, and NW, and similar with these of the whole accessions were in NE and CT. Rice accessions varied among the five regions, and there was a dramatic difference between the regions along Mekong River and the regions around Tonle Sap Lake.

Evaluation of genetic variation among wild rice populations in Cambodia.

A total of 448 samples in five natural populations of wild rice (Oryza rufipogon) were collected in Cambodia. They were examined using 12 SSR and two chloroplast markers to evaluate the degree of variation among populations and the genetic structure within populations. In the two annual populations, the number of plants with homozygous alleles at all 12 SSR loci were high (66.3% and 79.5%), suggesting that these plants propagate mainly through self-pollination. In the three perennial populations, no individuals had all homozygous genotypes, but redundant genotypes resulted from clonal propagation were observed. Percentages of the redundant genotypes were highly varied (3.6%, 29.2% and 86.0%). This may be due to the different stable levels of environmental conditions. As for chloroplast genome, most of the wild plants showed the same chloroplast types as most Indica-type cultivars have. However, plants with different chloroplast types were maintained, even in the same population. In tropical Asian countries, many wild rice populations were observed under similar ecological conditions examined in this study. Therefore, the present results concerning population structure will be important to further elucidate genetic features of wild rice, and will also give strong clues to utilize and conserve wild natural genetic resources.