Evaluation location: Wisconsin, United States
DNA was extracted from bulks of 27 plants from each of 94 populations to generate AFLPs. A total of 1,741 informative loci were detected. AFLP loci were treated as though they were traits, with the banded condition considered to be the desired state to include in a core set. At least one band unique to a population was present in 45 populations, and these 45 populations together captured 98% of all bands. Adding another 14 populations for a core of 59 populations captured 100% of bands. This core set was assessed for whether it encompassed those populations known to have useful traits, including nutritional and quality components; and disease, stress and pest resistances. As with AFLP bands, 25 out of 26 of the most desirable phenotypic traits were also found in populations in the core set of 59 populations. The most desirable status of 3 traits is lost by selecting a core of 45 populations. We conclude that these core sets would be a rational starting point when prospecting for new useful traits in microdontum. Populations in the core of 59 are ranked by number of bands contributed. A researcher planning an experiment which needed to limit the number of populations evaluated could compose a sub-core of required size by progressively selecting populations with higher band capture ranks, thus maximizing total bands captured. Lower numbered Band capture Rank populations captured more unique AFLP bands.