Genetic diversity analysis of brinjal (solanum melongena l.) accessions using rapd markers

Random Amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was applied to brinjal genotypes in order to assess the degree of polymorphism among genotypes. Three RAPD Primers ( OPB-07,OPL-04 and OPC-07) were used to estimate genetic diversity in five brinjal cultivars. A total of 30 bands were scored corresponding to an average of 10 bands per primer with 10 bands showing polymorphism (33.33%).One out of three primers (OPB-07) gave 50% polymorphism. Dice`s similarity coefficient ranged from 0.857-0.980.Similarity matrix computed with dice`s coefficient reveals maximum similarity between cultivars Swarna mani (S1) and Punjab-70 (S2), Arka kranti (S4) and Swarna abhilamb (S5) i.e, 0.980 and 0.923 respectively while distantly related cultivars were Swarna mani (S1) and Swarna abhilamb (S5) with similarity coefficient 0.857.A dendogram constructed based on UPGMA clustering method revealed two major clusters-cluster-1 and cluster-2.The cluster – 1 comprises of Swarna mani (S1) and Punjab-70 (S2) and cluster -2 comprises of Arka kranti (S4) and Swarna abhilamb (S5), while as Arka shree (S3) occupies a distinct place as revealed in dendogram.