GENETIC DIVERSITY ANALYSIS OF SIX MAJOR CEREAL CROPS CULTIVARS THROUGH RAPD MARKERS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity of Indian improved six major cereal crops like rice, wheat, maize, barley, pearl millet and sorghum varieties. The diversity of thirty-six varieties of six major cereal crops (rice, wheat, maize, barley, pearl millet and sorghum) was estimated by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique using 20 primers. RAPD analysis detected a total of 168 DNA fragments of which 107 (63.69%) were polymorphic. The genetic similarity matrix (based on Dice index) ranged from 0.435 to 0.81. These indices were used to construct a dendrogram using average linkage between groups. Results illustrate the potential of RAPD markers showed considerable potential for estimating genetic diversity among our six major cereal crops cultivars. The study provides valuable information for cultivars fingerprinting at a molecular level and can be used to assist efficient selection in six major cereal crops breeding strategies aiming at achieving sustainability in six major cereal crops production in India.