Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis of indigenous small and medium-grained scented rices (Oryza sativa L.) of Orissa

Scented rices are highly preferred due to their pleasant aroma and palatability. A large number of indigenous aromatic rice collections are awaiting systematic study for the assessment of genetic diversity. Random amplified polymorphic DNA technique was used for genetic diversity analysis among 24 rice cultivars consisting of 20 non-basmati scented and 4 non-scented rice varieties collected from Orissa. A total of 86 bands were amplified by 15 pre screened polymorphic decamer primers at an average rate of 5.73 bands/primer. The polymorphic loci recorded in the present study clearly discriminate all the accessions. The pair-wise genetic similarity coefficient varied from 0.52 between three pairs of rice genotypes viz., Samudrabali -Nariyaphula, Gayatri-Nadiarasa and IR64 - Gurmatia to 0.94 between Gurmatia and Samudrabali. The UPGMA cluster analysis revealed considerable variability among the population of 24 cultivars and discriminated all the non-scented rices from scented rice varieties. All the 24 rice genotypes were classified into three clusters and separated the non-scented rice varieties from rest of the scented rices. The group consisting of Nadiarasa and Nariyaphula with pair wise similarity coefficient 0.75 was separated from rest of the varieties at 60% similarity level. No duplicate entry was detected among the 24 rice cultivars included in the present study.