Comparative Analysis of Morphometric and Molecular Diversity in Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) Genotypes

It is noted that seed propagation resorted to, in cashew from the time of its introduction and allogamous nature of the crop have led to the inadvertent spread of non-descript genetic material throughout the state of Goa and the adjoining region, however, with enormous natural variability in it. This cashew seedling progeny in the Konkan region is considered to be the vital source of potent natural recombinants possessing desired commercial traits. Understanding the genetic divergence in cashew was hitherto based on morphological traits and yield components. Keeping in view the comparative analysis of morphometric data with that of molecular data, studies were taken up in 57 cashew genotypes. RAPD analysis differentiated all the cashew genotypes into two broad groups. Grouping of genotypes into six morphometric clusters and two molecular based clusters substantiated the fact that morphometric variables could be always under the influence of environment and thus often would mislead in understanding the actual divergence, where lies, the significance of diversity at molecular level. On the other hand, it would be a great deal of task to actually interpret the molecular data in the total absence of morphometric data. As regards to phenotypic inventory in the background of molecular diversity, the comparative analysis of both molecular results and clustering based on morphometric data reflected rather varied picture about the grouping pattern of genotypes. The studies aptly facilitated the correct selection of parental combination in crop breeding programmes with suitable objectives.