genetic diversity and structure of benin pineapple (ananas comosus (l) merr.) germplasm collection using simple sequence repeat (ssr) markers

Pineapple stands as a cornerstone among benin's vital fruit crops, playing a pivotal role in enhancing both household food security and income. this delectable fruit is prominently featured among the key crops advocated for cultivation within the country. despite the critical role this crop plays, our understanding of the diversity within genetic resources is remains limited. this study aimed to assess genetic variation and infer the population structure of 57 pineapple accessions collected from benin's national core collection, using 10 simple sequences repeat (ssr) markers. the result showed a total of 23 alleles, ranging from 2 to 4, with a mean of 2.3 alleles per locus. the polymorphic information content was 0.34 whereas the mean expected heterozygosity was 0.43. the upgma dendrogram revealed two main clusters. the collection was determined to exhibit a structured composition comprising two distinct groups based on genetic analysis. this grouping was further validated by amova, affirming its existence. our work offers valuable insights into the genetic diversity within beninese pineapple germplasm, thereby guiding strategic conservation efforts. moreover, these findings open avenues for leveraging the genetic variation present in benin’s pineapple germplasm for future pineapple breeding programs, thereby enhancing pineapple cultivation and resilience.