Delineation of Navara Punja - a Unique Germplasm in Oryza sativa cv. Navara Complex in Kerala, India using Morphological and SSR Markers

The diversity analysis among the indigenous medicinal rice germplasm of Navara (Oryza sativa L. cv. Navara) using morphological, biochemical and molecular parameters showed genetic polymorphism in this landrace. Germplasm characterization has been attempted using 35 qualitative and 48 quantitative traits and it revealed distinct variation for 6 vegetative and 10 reproductive qualitative traits. Analysis of variance for 48 quantitative traits showed significant variation (P<0.05) for six traits within accessions viz. endosperm elongation ratio, number of leaves (40^th day), leaf width, flag leaf width, panicle length and spikelet distance. Cluster analysis using qualitative and quantitative traits grouped Navara punja as a separate cluster. Protein (40.7mg/g) and total free amino acid content (2.06mg/g) was significantly high in accessions of Navara punja when compared to other ecotypes of Navara landraces and released varieties. High degree of polymorphism was exhibited by 27 SSR markers among Navara races. Unique bands of molecular weight 207.2bp were amplified from RM20 which delineated Navara punja from other Navara races. Results showed existence of a unique genotype in Navara germplasm namely Navara punja apart from Navara golden yellow and Navara black.