Genetic diversity assessment in clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.) by RAPD markers

Genetic diversity analysis of 12 clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.) genotypes were carried out using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. The 19 RAPD primers amplified a total of 212 bands, out of which 151 were polymorphic. The size of amplified DNA fragment varied from 146 to 2995 bp. The polymorphic bands varied from 22.22 percent in OPA-11 to 88.88 percent in OPA-12. Dendrogram based Jaccard's similarity coefficient grouped the 12 genotypes into four major clusters encompassing five subclusters. The first cluster comprised three subclusters with subcluster A1 contained three genotypes viz; GG-2, HG-75 and HG-365. Subcluster B1 had only one genotype GG-1 while, subcluster C1 contained two genotypes viz; RGC-471 and HVG-2-30. Cluster 2 entailed two subclusters viz; B1 and B2 having two genotypes each namely PRT-15 and GAUG-0013 grouped in subcluster B1 and FS-277 and PNB in subcluster B2. The third and fourth cluster contained single genotype GAUG-0522 and GAUG-9404, respectively. The similarity index values ranged from 0.52 to 0.87 indicating the presence of enormous genetic diversity at molecular level. Therefore, RAPD analysis could be used as tool for detecting genetic diversity and can be precisely used for grouping and selection of diverse parents. GG-2, HG-75 and HG-365 (Sub group A1) and GAUG-0522 (Group C) may be utilized for breeding good genotypes with high yield and resistance to bacterial blight in clusterbean.