ISSR ANALYSIS OF GENETIC DIVERSITY IN DALBERGIA SISSOO IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Variation in different phenotypic characteristics in shisham (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.) reported in previous studies reveals that a large amount of genetic diversity is available. In the present study, genetic diversity was assessed in D. sissoo vegetations from Lahore, Gujranwala and Sialkot districts. Leaf samples from 34 shisham trees showing variation in phenotypic characters such as shape and size of leaflets, pod length, number of seeds per pod, branching pattern, overall physical appearance of the trees etc., were collected from shisham plantations growing on road-sides and BRB canal-bank. A total of 10 inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers were used. Out of these, 7 primers amplified the genomic DNA of D. sissoo yielding 114 fragments, out of that 78 were polymorphic. There were 9 to 25 amplified fragments with different primers with size ranging from 100 bp to 2 kbp. Polymorphism ranged from 27.27% to 89.50%. Genotypic diversity in D. sissoo confirmed in the present study can be best exploited for plant breeding and conservation, especially in saving this precious tree species from dieback and wilt diseases.