Assessment of Genetic Divergence in Some Elite Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivars Using RAPD Markers

The genomic DNA of ten commercially released varieties of rice was amplified using random decamer primers. Out of the 40 random primers tested only 10 primers of arbitrary nucleotide sequence caused selective amplification of genomic DNA, which was unique to individual cultivar. Out of 529 amplicons, 87 were found to be highly polymorphic in nature; the extent of DNA polymorphism varied with each primer. The informative primers could be used in genetic fingerprinting of rice cultivars. On the basis of statistical analysis and dendrogram, the genetic relationship between and among the elite rice varieties was established.