Characterization of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. BR.] genotypes by using superoxide dismutase (SOD) isozyme

Isozymes are the product of the gene expression and it is a useful basic analytical tool to study the molecular characterization. As an important genetic marker, it is widely used to detect the inheritance and variance among different species or different cultivars within the species at the molecular level. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is one enzyme of the antioxidase system and generally exists in all kinds of plants. SODs are ubiquitous metalloenzymes that catalyze dismutation of superoxide radicals and prevents organisms from oxidative damage of too much oxygen free radicals, especially the damage to cytoplasm membrane. SOD isozyme had been used for characterization of number of plant species. In Pearl millet SOD isozyme had been extensively used for characterization. The present study conducted to characterize 21 genotypes (seven hybrids, six female parents, five male parents and three Open Pollinated Varieties(OPVs) of pearl millet by using SOD isozyme. Five bands were found ranges from Rm values of 0.44 to 0.91. Bands with Rm values of 0.44, 0.56 and 0.89 were monomorphic for all genotypes. Band with Rm value of 0.48 and 0.91 were found to be polymorphic. All genotypes could be grouped into as much as four clusters based on less than 50% Jaccard's similarity coefficients. Hybrids HHB50 (H1), HHB 67(H3) and HHB 94(H5) were closely resembled (SI=0.8000) with their female parents viz., MS 81A (F1), MS 843A (F3) and ICMA 89111A (F5).