ISSR marker based diversity assessment of Piper spp. in Bay Islands, India

Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) analysis was used to study the genetic diversity of Piper spp. with its relative genus Peperomia pellucida. Among the 38 ISSR primers used, 10 primers generated 1083 bands, of which seven (80.8%) were polymorphic. The maximum polymorphism were obtained from the primers UBC 881, UBC 889, UBC 848 and UBC 830. Cluster analysis grouped the species studied into two major clusters. One cluster comprised the different accessions of Piper nigrum and is distinct from the other species of Piperaceae. The other cluster grouped the four species of Piperaceae namely Piper longum, Piper sarmentosum, Piper betle and Peperomia pellucida. The variability studies also revealed that the ISSR marker could group the accessions within the same species based on their similar geographical origin. Assessment of genetic diversity among the different species of the family Piperaceae through ISSR marker would help in rapid identification of polymorphism, assist in future germplasm collection, conservation and domestication programmes.