RAPD-based Genetic Diversity analysis of Aromatic Rice (Oryza sativa L)

Genetic diversity of a total aromatic rice lines and two aromatic controls were assessed using the randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. Based on their history of collection and pedigree, the rice genotypes were grouped as traditional Basmati(TB), evolved Basmati, exotic Basmati, indigenous aromatic(IA) and non-aromatic(NA) checks. Five RAPD primers, previously used in rice, amplified a total of 44 DNA bands 41 were polymorphic. Polymorphism information content (PIC) value of each RAPD primer was computed. Similarly coefficients were calculated from the polymorphism between all paris of the rice lines and a dendrogram obtained using the un weighted pair group with Arithmetic mean (UPGMA) method. The analysis indicate that: (1) there is considerable amount of genetic diversity within the genotypes assessed; (2) with a singular exception, the Basmati genotypes are confined to two clusters; (3) a core group of eight TB genotypes shpw the least amount of variation while rest of the lines, including the other TB, are more variable; (4) the five RAPD primer- generated polymporphism clearly identified each of the 40 rice genotypes distinctively.