Microsatellite Based Genotyping of the Helianthus annuus L.

Genetic diversity among 35 genotypes of sunflower was determined using microsatellites (SSR markers) in the present study. Thirty five genotypes (3 CMS A lines and 32 R lines) were subjected to 34 SSR markers. Thirty four primers revealed 72 alleles with average 2.20 alleles per locus. PIC value for the primer pairs varied from 0.12 (ORS 591) to 0.71 (ORS 317) with average PIC value of 0.42. The phylogenetic tree divided genotypes into two main clusters viz. cluster 1 and cluster 2, which further are divided into four sub-clusters. Range of genetic distances based on SSR marker analysis varied from 0.32 (6A × P188R)-0.73 (11A × P174R). The distances measured based on SSR primers showed that the CMS 11A was most divergent genotype with a mean genetic dissimilarity coefficient of 0.59. Immense genetic diversity was observed in the present study, which can be used for further designing hybridization programme.

The present study was aimed to elaborate the applications of SSR markers to characterize and determine genetic relationship between the parental lines by assessing their genetic distances.