Polymorphism and genetic structure in Physalis angulata Brazilian germplasm

Abstract Physalis angulata is a species undergoing domestication and recognized for its economic relevance due to its high pharmacological and nutritional potential. This study aimed to genetically characterize 14 accessions from a germplasm collection of P. angulata originating from different regions of Brazil. Twelve nuclear microsatellite or simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were evaluated, of which 11 were polymorphic (SSRs 1, 2, 9, 13, 20, 54, 68, 107, 121, 123, and 126), corresponding to 91.7% polymorphic loci. The 11 polymorphic loci exhibited substantial variation in the number of alleles (Na) (2 to 3/locus) and in expected heterozygosity (He) (0.337–0.663), with values generally higher than those reported in previous research with P. angulata . Allelic distribution was heterogeneous among the accessions, with a private allele detected (1) in a specific subgroup of individuals (PA), indicating uneven genetic variability across the collection. Cluster analysis (Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean [UPGMA] dendrogram) and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) revealed the formation of two large groups composed of accessions from different geographic regions, suggesting the absence of a clear geographic pattern of genetic structuring. From an applied perspective, this study represents an initial step towards the genetic characterization of P. angulata germplasm from the semi-arid region of Bahia. The results provide a scientific basis for the development of conservation strategies and future genetic improvement programs for the species.