M. Maras

Publications (3)2.4 Total impact

• Article: Temporal changes in genetic diversity of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) accessions cultivated between 1800 and 2000

  M. Maras, S. Sušnik, J. Šuštar-Vozlič, V. Meglič
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  ABSTRACT: Fourteen microsatellite markers were used to describe genetic diversity in a sample of 128 common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) accessions cultivated within the territory of Slovenia and its nearby regions between 1800 and 2000. The accessions were grouped into three periods: period I comprising accessions from the beginning of the 19th century, while the other two periods included accessions from the middle (period II) and the end of the 20th century (period III). Seven control accessions of known Mesoamerican and Andean origin were also included in the study. A total of 130 alleles were generated. Allelic richness, in terms of number of alleles per locus, was 6.07 for period I, 6.71 for period II, and 6.07 for period III. In the UPGMA dendrogram, all studied accessions were intermixed in three main clusters, indicating that the diversity in the time periods overlapped. Two clusters consisted of accessions of Andean and Mesoamerican origin, while the third represents additional variation, which existed in this area already 200 years ago. The analysis of molecular variance showed that a great part of genetic diversity has been preserved till today, confirming the results of cluster analysis. The calculation of number of alleles per locus revealed no significant quantitative change in genetic diversity over the last 200 years of common bean cultivation. However, the calculation of genetic distances indicated slight qualitative shifts in genetic diversity of common bean germplasm over time, while the calculations of allelic frequency variation and polymorphic information content revealed recent decline of some alleles’ frequencies. These findings should stress the need for establishing an appropriate strategy of genetic resources management.
  Russian Journal of Genetics 04/2012; 42(7):775-782. · 0.43 Impact Factor
• Article: Comparison of three genetic similarity coefficients based on dominant markers from predominantly self-pollinating species

  A. Beharav, M. Maras, M. Kitner, J. Šuštar-Vozlič, G. L. Sun, I. Doležalová, A. Lebeda, V. Meglič
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  ABSTRACT: Three genetic similarity coefficients were estimated and compared for their usefulness: simple matching (S(SM)), Jaccard's (S(J)) and Dice's (S(D)), all based on dominant markers data from individuals representing predominantly self-pollinating species. AFLP markers were used to analyze 139 Phaseolus vulgaris L. (common bean) and 67 Lactuca saligna L. (least lettuce) accessions, and RAPD markers were used to analyze 110 Triticum dicoccoides Koern. (wild emmer wheat) accessions. Similar discriminating structure and power based on the three genetic similarity coefficients was found for each of the three species. This discriminating power was high for both P. vulgaris and L. saligna but moderate for T. dicoccoides. With closely related individuals, as in our study, the absence of a band in two individuals should be due to an identical cause inherited from the same ancestor. Accordingly we propose the use of S(SM), which alone out of the three examined coefficients involved shared absence of DNA bands, as contributing to genetic similarity. When RAPDs are employed, inferences about population structure and nucleotide divergence should be made with prudence as the nature of genetic variation uncovered by RAPDs is often unclear.
  Biologia Plantarum 03/2010; 54(1):54-60. · 1.97 Impact Factor
• Book: AFLP analysis of Lactuca saligna germplasm collections from four European and three Near East countries

  M. Kitner, A. Lebeda, I. Doležalová, E. Křístková, A. Beharav, E. Nevo, T. Pavlíček, M. Maras, V. Meglič
  01/2007;