SSR MARKERS LINKED TO SEED SIZE AND SEED WEIGHT IN LOCAL AND EXOTIC CHICKPEA GERMPLASM REPORTED FROM PAKISTAN

Abstract

In advance research studies the PCR based molecular markers have a great contribution in genome analysis and marker-assisted selection. In the present study, we have utilized RAPD and SSR markers for linkage analysis with chickpea yield contributing traits. For that purpose, we were obtained 70 chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) accessions from Plant Genetic Resource Program (PGRP), National Agriculture Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan. It was found that 100 seed weight was highly significantly correlated with seed size quantitatively. For linkage analysis, 20 RAPD and 30 SSR makers were utilized. In the makers, 5 RAPD and 15 SSR were polymorphic and showed significant levels of coefficient of variation. None of the RAPD primer was linked to seed size and seed weight while, SSR markers TA72 and TA130 showed linkage and sorted chickpea accession on the basis of seed weight and seed size. The majority of accessions of USA origin was observed with maximum100 seed weight (30-57gm) and medium to large (7.2-9.9mm) size seeds including one of the accession 2562 of Pakistani origin also with large size seeds. Hence, the linkage of these makers and the use of large and medium size seeds may enhance the yield of chickpea plant in Pakistan.