Showing papers on "RAPD published in 2008"

Advances in molecular marker techniques and their applications in plant sciences

Abstract: Detection and analysis of genetic variation can help us to understand the molecular basis of various biological phenomena in plants. Since the entire plant kingdom cannot be covered under sequencing projects, molecular markers and their correlation to phenotypes provide us with requisite landmarks for elucidation of genetic variation. Genetic or DNA based marker techniques such as RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism), RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA), SSR (simple sequence repeats) and AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) are routinely being used in ecological, evolutionary, taxonomical, phylogenic and genetic studies of plant sciences. These techniques are well established and their advantages as well as limitations have been realized. In recent years, a new class of advanced techniques has emerged, primarily derived from combination of earlier basic techniques. Advanced marker techniques tend to amalgamate advantageous features of several basic techniques. The newer methods also incorporate modifications in the methodology of basic techniques to increase the sensitivity and resolution to detect genetic discontinuity and distinctiveness. The advanced marker techniques also utilize newer class of DNA elements such as retrotransposons, mitochondrial and chloroplast based microsatellites, thereby revealing genetic variation through increased genome coverage. Techniques such as RAPD and AFLP are also being applied to cDNA-based templates to study patterns of gene expression and uncover the genetic basis of biological responses. The review details account of techniques used in identification of markers and their applicability in plant sciences.

Genetic diversity among Jatropha species as revealed by RAPD markers

Abstract: The genus Jatropha is native of tropical America with more than 200 species that are widely distributed in tropics with a promise for use as an oil crop for biodiesel. This investigation was carried out to assess the genetic diversity of 12 Jatropha species based on random amplified polymorphic DNA markers. From 26 random primers used, 18 primers gave reproducible amplification banding patterns of 112 polymorphic bands out of 134 bands scored accounting for 80.2% polymorphism across the genotypes. Three primers viz., OPA 4, OPF 11, and OPD 14 generated 100% polymorphic patterns. The polymorphic information content was highest for the primer OPD 14 (0.50) followed by the primers OPF 11 and OPAD 11 (0.48). Jaccard’s coefficient of similarity varied from 0.00 to 0.85, indicative of high level of genetic variation among the genotypes studied. UPGMA cluster analysis indicated three distinct clusters, one comprising all accessions of J. curcas L., while second included six species viz., J. ramanadensis Ramam., J. gossypiifolia L., J. podagrica Hook., J. tanjorensis J. L. Ellis et Saroja J. villosa Wight and J. integerrima Jacq. J. glandulifera Roxb. remained distinct and formed third cluster indicating its higher genetic distinctness from other species. The overall grouping pattern of clustering corresponds well with principal component analysis confirming patterns of genetic diversity observed among the species. The result provides valid guidelines for collection, conservation and characterization of Jatropha genetic resources.

Analogy of ISSR and RAPD markers for comparative analysis of genetic diversity among different Jatropha curcas genotypes

Abstract: polymorphism detection, as they detected 84.26% as compared to 76.54% for ISSR markers. But, resolving power (Rp), average bands per primer, Nei’s genetic diversity (h), Shannon’s Information Index (I), total genotype diversity among population (Ht), within population diversity (Hs) and gene flow (Nm) estimates were more for ISSR (7.098, 5.79, 0.245, 0.374, 0.244, 0.137 and 0.635, respectively) as compared to RAPD markers (5.669, 5.35, 0.225, 0.359, 0.225, 0.115 and 0.518, respectively). The regression test between the two Nei’s genetic diversity indexes gave r 2 = 0.3318, showing low regression between RAPD and ISSR based similarities. Regression value for ISSR and ISSR + RAPD combined data is moderate (0.6027), while it is maximum for RAPD and ISSR+RAPD based similarities (0.9125). Thus both the markers are equally important for genetic diversity analysis in Jatropha curcas. Clustering of genotypes within groups was not similar when RAPD and ISSR derived dendrogram were compared, whereas the pattern of clustering of the genotypes remained more or less the same in RAPD and combined data of RAPD + ISSR. Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCA) analysis was also employed to evaluate the resolving power of the markers to differentiate between the genotypes. These analyses, carried out for both (ISSR and RAPD) markers, allowed us to identify four main groups partially corresponding to the four J. curcas collection sites. The results of the present study can be seen as a starting point for future researches on the population and evolutionary genetics of these genotypes.

Analysis of genetic diversity in

Abstract: Wild oats is the worst weed of wheat worldwide but, the oats are also used as food for people and as feed for animals, especially poultry and horses. Straw of oats is used as animal bedding and sometimes as animal feed. To improve yield and quality of oat, presence of sufficient genetic diversity in the germplasm is an important prerequisite. Due to its nutritional importance 10 varieties of oat were used for genetic diversity analysis. This study will provide a new trend in research that oat can be used as cultivated crop varieties and it has sufficient diversity for improvement like other major crops. On an average, 30.3 alleles per genotype were amplified using RAPD primers. Mean genetic distance estimates ranged from 15 to 81%. Size of scorable fragments ranged from approximately 250 to >1000 bp. A high level of genetic dissimilarity (GD= up to 81%) was estimated among the 10 genotypes. Entries were grouped in clusters using cluster analysis. On the basis of dendrogram, most diverse genotypes were identified for future breeding programs.

Microsatellites for the genus Cucurbita and an SSR-based genetic linkage map of Cucurbita pepo L.

Abstract: Until recently, only a few microsatellites have been available for Cucurbita, thus their development is highly desirable. The Austrian oil-pumpkin variety Gleisdorfer Olkurbis (C. pepo subsp. pepo) and the C. moschata cultivar Soler (Puerto Rico) were used for SSR development. SSR-enriched partial genomic libraries were established and 2,400 clones were sequenced. Of these 1,058 (44%) contained an SSR at least four repeats long. Primers were designed for 532 SSRs; 500 primer pairs produced fragments of expected size. Of these, 405 (81%) amplified polymorphic fragments in a set of 12 genotypes: three C. moschata, one C. ecuadorensis, and eight C. pepo representing all eight cultivar groups. On an average, C. pepo and C. moschata produced 3.3 alleles per primer pair, showing high inter-species transferability. There were 187 SSR markers detecting polymorphism between the USA oil-pumpkin variety “Lady Godiva” (O5) and the Italian crookneck variety “Bianco Friulano” (CN), which are the parents of our previous F2 mapping population. It has been used to construct the first published C. pepo map, containing mainly RAPD and AFLP markers. Now the updated map comprises 178 SSRs, 244 AFLPs, 230 RAPDs, five SCARs, and two morphological traits (h and B). It contains 20 linkage groups with a map density of 2.9 cM. The observed genome coverage (Co) is 86.8%. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00122-008-0750-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Analysis of genetic diversity through AFLP, SAMPL, ISSR and RAPD markers in Tribulus terrestris, a medicinal herb.

Abstract: Tribulus terrestris is well known for its medicinal importance in curing urino-genital disorders. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), selective amplification of microsatellite polymorphic loci (SAMPL), inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used for the first time for the detection of genetic polymorphism in this medicinal herb from samples collected from various geographical regions of India. Six assays each of AFLP and SAMPL markers and 21 each of ISSR and RAPD markers were utilized. AFLP yielded 500 scorable amplified products, of which 82.9% were polymorphic. SAMPL primers amplified 488 bands, 462 being polymorphic (94.7%). The range of amplified bands was 66 [(TC)8G + M-CAG] to 98 [(CA)6AG + M-CAC] and the percentage polymorphism, 89.9 [from (CT)4C (AC)4A + M-CTG] to 100 [from (GACA)4 + M-CTA]. The ISSR primers amplified 239 bands of 0.4–2.5 kb, 73.6% showed polymorphism. The amplified products ranged from 5 to 16 and the percentage polymorphism 40–100. RAPD assays produced 276 bands, of which 163 were polymorphic (59%). Mantel test employed for detection of goodness of fit established cophenetic correlation values above 0.9 for all the four marker systems. The dendrograms and PCA plots derived from the binary data matrices of the four marker systems are highly concordant. High bootstrap values were obtained at major nodes of phenograms through WINBOOT software. The relative efficiency of the four molecular marker systems calculated on the basis of multiplex ratio, marker index and average heterozygosity revealed SAMPL to be the best. Distinct DNA fingerprinting profile, unique to every geographical region could be obtained with all the four molecular marker systems. Clustering can be a good indicator for clear separation of genotypes from different regions in well-defined groups that are supported by high bootstrap values.

Detection of somaclonal variation of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) using cytogenetics, flow cytometry and molecular markers

Abstract: Two protocols of plant regeneration for cotton were adopted in this study, namely, 2, 4-D and kinetin hormone combination and IBA and kinetin hormone combination. Twenty-eight embryogenic cell lines via somatic embryogenesis and 67 regenerated plants from these embryogenic calli were selected and used for random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), simple sequence repeat (SSR), chromosomal number counting, and flow cytometric analysis. The roles of RAPD and SSR markers in detecting somaclonal variation of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) were evaluated. Two cluster analyses were performed to express, in the form of dendrograms, the relationships among the hormone combinations and the genetic variability. Both DNA-based techniques were able to amplify all of the cell clones and regenerated plantlets genomes and relative higher genetic variation could be detected in the culture type with 2, 4-D and kinetin hormone combination. The result suggested that 2, 4-D and kinetin hormone combination could induce relative high somaclonal variation and RAPD and SSR markers are useful in detecting somaclonal variation of regenerated cotton plants via somatic embryogenesis. Chromosome number counting and flow cytometry analysis revealed that the number of chromosomes and ploidy levels were nearly stable in all regenerated plants except two regenerated plantlets (lost 4 and 5 chromosomes, respectively) which meant that cytological changes were not correlated with the frequency of RAPD and SSR polymorphisms. This result also might mean that the cell lines with variation of chromosome numbers were difficult to regenerate plants.

Genome mapping of three major resistance genes to woolly apple aphid ( Eriosoma lanigerum Hausm.)

Abstract: Woolly apple aphid (WAA; Eriosoma lanigerum Hausm.) can be a major economic problem to apple growers in most parts of the world, and resistance breeding provides a sustainable means to control this pest. We report molecular markers for three genes conferring WAA resistance and placing them on two linkage groups (LG) on the genetic map of apple. The Er1 and Er2 genes derived from ‘Northern Spy’ and ‘Robusta 5,’ respectively, are the two major genes that breeders have used to date to improve the resistance of apple rootstocks to this pest. The gene Er3, from ‘Aotea 1’ (an accession classified as Malus sieboldii), is a new major gene for WAA resistance. Genetic markers linked to the Er1 and Er3 genes were identified by screening random amplification of polymorphic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA; RAPD) markers across DNA bulks from resistant and susceptible plants from populations segregating for these genes. The closest RAPD markers were converted into sequence-characterized amplified region markers and the genome location of these two genes was assigned to LG 08 by aligning the maps around the genes with a reference map of ‘Discovery’ using microsatellite markers. The Er2 gene was located on LG 17 of ‘Robusta 5’ using a genetic map developed in a M.9 × ‘Robusta 5’ progeny. Markers for each of the genes were validated for their usefulness for marker-assisted selection in separate populations. The potential use of the genetic markers for these genes in the breeding of apple cultivars with durable resistance to WAA is discussed.

Inheritance of Fusarium wilt resistance introgressed from Solanum aethiopicum Gilo and Aculeatum groups into cultivated eggplant ( S. melongena ) and development of associated PCR-based markers

Abstract: The two eggplant relatives Solanum aethiopicum gr. Gilo and Solanum aethiopicum gr. Aculeatum (=Solanum integrifolium) carry resistance to the fungal wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melongenae, a worldwide soil-borne disease of eggplant. To introgress the resistance trait into cultivated eggplant, the tetraploid somatic hybrids S. melongena + S. aethiopicum and S. melongena + S. integrifolium were used. An inheritance study of the resistance was performed on advanced anther culture-derived androgenetic backcross progenies from the two somatic hybrids. The segregation fitted a 3 resistant (R): 1 susceptible (S) ratio in the selfed populations and a 1R:1S ratio in the backcross progenies for the trait derived from S. aethiopicum and S. integrifolium. These ratios are consistent with a single gene, which we designated as Rfo-sa1, controlling the resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melongenae. The allelic relationship between the resistance genes from S. aethiopicum and S. integrifolium indicate that these two genes are alleles of the same locus. Bulked Segregant Analysis (BSA) was performed with RAPD markers on the BC3/BC5 resistant advanced backcross progenies, and three RAPD markers associated with the resistance trait were identified. Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Sequences (CAPSs) were subsequently obtained on the basis of the amplicon sequences. The evaluation of the efficiency of these markers in predicting the resistant phenotype in segregating progenies revealed that they represent useful tools for indirect selection of Fusarium resistance in eggplant.

Development of SRAP, SRAP-RGA, RAPD and SCAR markers linked with a Fusarium wilt resistance gene in eggplant

Abstract: Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. f. sp. melongenae) is a vascular disease of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). The objectives of this work were (1) to confirm the monogenic inheritance of fusarium wilt resistance in eggplant, (2) to identify molecular markers linked to this resistance, and (3) to develop SCAR markers from most informative markers. We report the tagging of the gene for resistance to fusarium wilt (FOM) in eggplant using SRAP, RGA, SRAP-RGA and RAPD markers. Analysis of segregation data confirmed the monogenic inheritance of resistance. DNA from F2 and BC1 populations of eggplant segregating for fusarium wilt resistance was screened with 2,316 primer combinations to detect polymorphism. Three markers were linked within 2.6 cM of the gene. The codominant SRAP marker Me8/Em5 and dominant SRAP-RGA marker Em12/GLPL2 were tightly linked to each other and mapped 1.2 cM from the resistance gene, whereas RAPD marker H12 mapped 2.6 cM from the gene and on the same side as the other two markers. The SRAP marker was converted into two dominant SCAR markers that were confirmed to be linked to the resistance gene in the F2, BC1 and F2 of BC3 generations of the same cross. These markers provide a starting point for mapping the eggplant FOM resistance gene in eggplant and for exploring the synteny between solanaceous crops for fusarium wilt resistance genes. The SCAR markers will be useful for identifying fusarium wilt-resistant genotypes in marker-assisted selection breeding programs using segregating progenies of the resistant eggplant progenitor used in this study.

DNA markers for Portuguese olive oil fingerprinting

Abstract: The certification of olive oil has led to the definition of Protected Denomination of Origin (PDO) producing regions in European countries. PDO products should be protected, and a solution could be by using DNA fingerprinting. In this work we evaluate the efficiency of RAPD, ISSR, and SSR molecular markers for olive oil varietal identification and their possible use in certification purposes. Twenty-three Portuguese olive oil samples (11 obtained monovarietal and 12 purchased commercial oils) were screened by means of two RAPD, four ISSR, and four SSR markers. The quality of amplified products was used to evaluate the reproducibility and the level of polymorphism. Principal component analysis was performed with DCENTER using unweighted pair group mathematical average (UPGMA) that allowed group formation according to olive oil varietal geographic origin.

Construction of an Intraspecific Linkage Map and QTL Analysis for Earliness and Plant Height in Lentil

Abstract: Earliness and plant height traits are key targets in lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) breeding and are quantitatively controlled. Recombinant inbred lines (RILs) are useful in genetic mapping studies of quantitative traits. The objectives of this study are to develop a genetic map and identify genome regions associated with earliness and plant height using RILs derived from a cross between 'Eston' x PI320937. Number of days to flower and plant height at flowering were collected at two Saskatchewan locations, Saskatoon and Floral, in 2004. Two hundred and seven amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), simple sequence repeat (SSRs), and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to genotype 94 RILs. The markers were ordered into 12 linkage groups (LGs) with a total length of 1868 cM. The average density of markers was 8.9 cM. The AFLP markers were distributed throughout the genome, whereas RAPD and SSR markers were located on LG4 to LG9 only. A resistance gene to anthracnose [caused by Colletotrichum truncatum (Schwein.) Andrus & W.D. Moore] and a quantitative trait locus (QTL) to ascochyta blight (caused by Ascochyta lentis Vassilievsky) were mapped previously on LG6. Quantitative trait loci affecting earliness and plant height were identified on LG1, LG2, LG4, LG5, LG9, and LG12 at Saskatoon and Floral evaluation locations and explained 37 to 46% and 31 to 40% of the total variation, respectively. Earliness QTLs that were consistently expressed at both locations were concentrated on LG4 and LG12, and markers flanking these QTL regions could be good candidates for marker-assisted selection.

RAPD: a database of recombinantly-produced antimicrobial peptides.

Abstract: We have developed the Recombinantly-produced Antimicrobial Peptides Database (RAPD) to house relevant information on recombinant approaches to generate antimicrobial peptides Key information stored in the database, which is extracted from published experiments, includes expression host, fusion strategy, release method and yield for individual peptides Bibliographic data directly related to each particular case are also available RAPD allows easy comparison of the relative popularity and efficiency of different strategies, and can thus be used as a guideline for future production of similar peptides The database is freely available at http://facultyistunomahaedu/chen/rapd/indexphp

Chinese melon (Cucumis melo L.) diversity analyses provide strategies for germplasm curation, genetic improvement, and evidentiary support of domestication patterns

Abstract: The genetic diversity of melon market types (Cucumis melo L., 2n = 2x = 24) in China, an important secondary center of diversity, has not been examined. Therefore, reference accessions from India and Africa, Crete/Greece, Japan, Europe, U.S.A., Spain, and 68 Chinese cultigens (fresh-market non-netted thin-skinned; non-netted thick-skinned; netted thick-skinned; and non-netted thin-skinned, and vegetable) were evaluated by using 17 10-mer RAPD primers (32 mapped loci), days to flower, sex expression, lateral-branch number, and fruit number and weight per plant. While Chinese thin-skinned melons differed from vegetable melon types only in sex expression, the U.S. Western Shipping market type reference accession “Top Mark” and Chinese thick-skinned melons were similar for all of the morphological traits examined. The average similarity (Jaccard Coefficient) between any two pairs of accessions examined as estimated by RAPD variation was 0.47 ± 0.14. Within-group genetic similarities ranged between 0.94 (thin-skinned type) and 0.08 (non-netted thick-skinned type). The average/standard deviation, maximum, and minimum similarity between any two Chinese reference accessions was 0.41 ± 0.13, 0.75, and 0.12, respectively. Cluster analysis partitioned accessions into two main branches consisting of Group Cantalupensis and Inodorus reference accessions (clade 1) and Chinese accessions (clade 2). A second cluster analysis partitioned China, India, and Africa accessions into one major group, and accessions from Japan, Europe, and U.S.A. into another. Results indicate that Chinese accessions are a rich source of genetic diversity for plant improvement, and that molecular assessments support previously described theoretical melon domestication patterns constructed from historical and archeological evidence.

Intimately linked or hardly speaking? The relationship between genotype and environmental gradients in a Louisiana Iris hybrid population

Abstract: Several models of hybrid zone evolution predict the same spatial patterns of genotypic distribution whether or not structuring is due to environment-dependent or -independent selection. In this study, we tested for evidence of environment-dependent selection in an Iris fulva x Iris brevicaulis hybrid population by examining the distribution of genotypes in relation to environmental gradients. We selected 201 Louisiana Iris plants from within a known hybrid population (80 m x 80 m) and placed them in four different genotypic classes (I. fulva, I. fulva-like hybrid, I. brevicaulis-like hybrid and I. brevicaulis) based on seven species-specific random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers and two chloroplast DNA haplotypes. Environmental variables were then measured. These variables included percentage cover by tree canopy, elevation from the high water mark, soil pH and percentage soil organic matter. Each variable was sampled for all 201 plants. Canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) was used to infer the environmental factors most strongly associated with the different genotypic groups. Slight differences in elevation (-0.5 m to +0.4 m) were important for distinguishing habitat distributions described by CDA, even though there were no statistical differences between mean elevations alone. I. brevicaulis occurred in a broad range of habitats, while I. fulva had a narrower distribution. Of all the possible combinations, I. fulva-like hybrids and I. brevicaulis-like hybrids occurred in the most distinct habitat types relative to one another. Each hybrid class was not significantly different from its closest parent with regard to habitat occupied, but was statistically unique from its more distant parental species. Within the hybrid genotypes, most, but not all, RAPD loci were individually correlated with environmental variables. This study suggests that, at a very fine spatial scale, environment-dependent selection contributed to the genetic structuring of this hybrid zone.

A RAPID, EASY AND HIGH YIELD PROTOCOL FOR TOTAL GENOMIC DNA ISOLATION OF Colletotrichum gloeosporioides AND Fusarium oxysporum

Abstract: A rapid, easy and simple protocol for total genomic DNA isolation was developted for Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Fusarium oxysporum . The total genomic DNA yield was very high and suitable to RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA), and restriction endonuclease reactions. DNA obtained by this protocol was not contaminated by protein or carbohydrate, and proteases, cesium chloride or phenol were also not necessary.

Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA PCR as a Tool for Assessment of Marine Viral Richness

Abstract: Recent discoveries have uncovered considerable genetic diversity among aquatic viruses and raised questions about the variability of this diversity within and between environments. Studies of the temporal and spatial dynamics of aquatic viral assemblages have been hindered by the lack of a common genetic marker among viruses for rapid diversity assessments. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) PCR bypasses this obstacle by sampling at the genetic level without requiring viral isolation or previous sequence knowledge. In this study, the utility of RAPD-PCR for assessing DNA viral richness within Chesapeake Bay water samples was evaluated. RAPD-PCR using single 10-mer oligonucleotide primers successfully produced amplicons from a variety of viral samples, and banding patterns were highly reproducible, indicating that each band likely represents a single amplicon originating from viral template DNA. In agreement with observations from other community profiling techniques, resulting RAPD-PCR banding patterns revealed more temporal than spatial variability in Chesapeake Bay virioplankton assemblages. High-quality hybridization probes and sequence information were also easily generated from single RAPD-PCR products or whole reactions. Thus, the RAPD-PCR technique appears to be practical and efficient for routine use in high-resolution viral diversity studies by providing assemblage comparisons through fingerprinting, probing, or sequence information.

Use of RAPD and ISSR Markers in Detection of Genetic Variation and Population Structure among Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris Isolates on Chickpea in Turkey

Abstract: Genetic variation among the isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris, the causal agent of chickpea wilt worldwide, was analysed using pathogenicity tests and molecular markers – random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) polymorphism. Hundred and eight isolates were obtained from diseased chickpea plants in 13 different provinces of Turkey, out of which 74 isolates were assessed using 30 arbitrary decamer primers and 20 ISSR primers. Unweighted pair-grouped method by arithmetic average cluster analysis of RAPD, ISSR and RAPD + ISSR datasets provided a substantially similar discrimination among Turkish isolates and divided into three major groups. Group 1, 2 and 3 consisted of 41, 18 and 15 isolates, respectively. These methods revealed a considerable genetic variation among Turkish isolates, but no correlation with regard to the clustering of isolates from different geographic regions. Analysis of molecular variance confirmed that most genetic variability resulted from the differences among isolates within regions. Our results also indicated that the low-genetic differentiation (FST) and high gene flow (Nm) among populations had a significant effect on the emergence and evolutionary development of F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceris. This is the first report on genetic diversity and population structure of F. oxysporum isolates on chickpea in Turkey.

Study of genetic diversity in safflower genotypes using agro-morphological traits and RAPD markers

Abstract: This research was conducted to study the genetic diversity in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) using agro-morphological traits and RAPD markers. Sixteen selected lines derived from landraces growing in various agro-climatic regions of Iran along with four exotic genotypes were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replications under field conditions. Days to emergence, days to initial flowering, days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, branches per plant, capitula per plant, seeds per capitulum, 1,000-seed weight, seed yield per plant, seed yield, and reaction to powdery mildew (Leveillula taurica Arnaud) were evaluated in this study. Genetic diversity of the genotypes was assessed by RAPD markers. The results indicated significant differences among genotypes for the agro-morphological traits and clustering based on these traits classified the genotypes into five groups. Analysis of the RAPD markers revealed 15 polymorphic primers out of 50 used primers. Based on RAPD data, the highest genetic similarity was observed between the cultivars of “AC Sunset,” “AC Sterling” from Canada and the lowest relatedness observed between a local breeding line “E2428” and genotype “GE62923” from Germany. Cluster analysis based on RAPD markers and 54% coefficient of similarity divided the genotypes into five distinct groups. Comparing the clusters based on agro-morphological traits with those from molecular markers showed slight similarities. The finding of high genetic variation for agro-morphological traits and polymorphism at DNA level reveal that agronomic traits can be improved by selection programs.

Genetic relationships among chickpea (Cicer arietinum) elite lines based on RAPD and agronomic markers

Abstract: Utilization of diverse germplasm is needed to enhance the genetic diversity of cultivars. Genetically diverse lines provide ample opportunity to create favourable gene combinations and the probability of producing a unique genotypes increases in proportion to the number of gene by which the parents differ. The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic relationships of 36 chickpea germplasm accessions using morphological traits and RAPD markers. Out of 33 primers, nine primers generated 44 polymorphic markers. The average polymorphic information content (PIC) was 0.43, ranging from 0.68 to 0.12. The lowest and the highest PIC value were recorded for primer OPB10 and OPJ-20, respectively. The average genetic distance (GD), based on Fst values among the 36 accessions was 0.397, ranging from 0.59 to 0.12. Cluster analysis based on morphological traits separated the accessions into three groups and based on RAPD data accessions formed in four distinct groups. The RAPD analysis clearly indicated that even with nine polymorphic primers, reliable estimation of genetic diversity could be obtained. The markers generated by RAPD assays can provide practical information for the management of genetic diversity.

Identification of Sex-specific DNA Markers for Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Using RAPD and ISSR Techniques

Abstract: 2,3 Abstract: In this paper w e have attempted to identify se x-specific DNA markers for so me date palm cultivars using molecular technique (RAPD and ISSR) to facilitate the selection and identification of good male pollinators for further utilization in breeding programs to i ncrease the yield and to i mprove some quality tra its of f ruits. To our k nowledge, t his is the first re port o f an analysis of ge nder g enetic identification in date palm using both RAPD and ISSR analyses which gave three positive specific markers for females and two for males in RAPD analysis in addition to f ive positive specific m arkers for males in I SSR analysis. On t he other hand, the level of polymorphism acr oss cultivars was 70% and 87 % as revealed by R APD or IS SR, re spectively.

Molecular and pomological diversity among pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars in Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey

Abstract: Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an important fruit species for Turkey where many cultivars are being cultivated. In this study, we determined the fruit characteristics and RAPD band patterns of six local cultivars from Hatay, Turkey. Our results demonstrated that there is a great level of morphological variation. The principle component analysis of 18 quantitative fruit characteristics revealed that fruit weight, aril number/fruit, peel color and soluble solids/acidity ratio are important traits for discriminating the cultivars tested. The UPGMA cluster of fruit characteristics indicated that ‘Katýrba
ý’ and ‘Kan narý’ were similar to each other and they were separated from rest of the cultivars. Twenty-two RAPD primers generated total of 106 reproducible bands 22% of which were polymorphic. The UPGMA dendrogram of RAPD data showed that ‘Tatlý nar’ and ‘erife’ were very closely related while ‘ncekabuk’ is distinct from the other cultivars. As a result, discrepancies were detected between morphological and molecular data. Therefore, we confirmed that diversity among the fruit characteristics were not good indication of genetic relatedness while molecular tools are valuable to study such similarities.