GENETIC DIVERSITY OF GUAR (CYAMOPSIS TETRAGONOLOBA L.) LANDRACES FROM PAKISTAN BASED ON RAPD MARKERS

Abstract

Genetic diversity is very important for developing new crop varieties with high yield and other desirable traits. Consequently it assists in increasing food production and improving the level of human nutrition. Genetic diversity among 30 guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) accessions was observed at DNA level using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. High quality genomic DNA was extracted and PCR conditions were optimized for amplification using 12 random primers. Twelve decamers generated a total of 76 amplification products, of which average proportion of polymorphic loci was 73%. The number of amplified products produced by each primer ranged from 3 to 10 with an average of 6.3 bands per primer. Dice similarity coefficients ranged from 0.49 to 0.93. The highest similarity index of 93% was observed between accessions ‘27350’ and ‘27351’, whereas ‘24293’ and ‘24302’ were the most varied accessions with similarity index of 49%. On the basis of similarity matrix analysis via unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA), accessions were grouped into three main groups and nine subgroups or clusters. Two accessions ‘21702’ and ‘24293’ remained in distinct clusters. The results from the present study would assist in the identification and demarcation of elite guar accessions for local consumption, and also for export purposes. This work will significantly add to broaden the scope of selection of diverse parent accessions in order to expand germplasm base for future breeding programs.