Genetic diversity among fifteen finger millet genotypes was estimated using RAPD markers. Out of the initial twenty-five random primers, nine RAPD primers were found to be highly reproducible and produced a total of 60 loci of which 51 loci were polymorphic. Primer OPC18 amplified highest number of polymorphic bands. Percentage of polymorphism varied from 50% to 100% with an average of 80.8%. Polymorphism information content (PIC) value of the primers ranged from 0.17 to 0.38 and the resolving power (Rp) varied from 2.66 to 12.06. Primers OPN16 and OPD8 exhibited high Rp along with high PIC value. The coefficient of similarity in banding pattern among genotypes ranged from0.42 to 0.89. The genotypes OEB 65 & HR 374 and BM 107 & SRS 2 showed high genetic similarity of 0.89 and 0.87, respectively indicating low genetic diversity and also showed similarity in growth traits. DM 7 and AKP 2 showed the lowest similarity of 0.42 indicating them to be quite diverse. Cluster analysis by UPGMA method grouped the fifteen finger millet genotypes into one major cluster of eight genotypes and five minor clusters indicating presence of genetic diversity among the genotypes at molecular level.
Finger millet, Genetic diversity, RAPD markers
