RAPD Marker Assisted Quality Assessment of Genetic Relatedness among Jatropha Cultivars of Coastal District in South India

PCR-based Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers have been used extensively to study genetic relationships in a number of oil crops. A wide genetic diversity exists in the Jatropha cultivars. The present study was undertaken to investigate the extent of genetic relatedness that exists and also to establish phylogenetic relationship using RAPD markers among six Jatropha cultivars from Tuticorin district of South India geographically located in “Gulf of Mannar”. Seven primers could generate a total of 257 RAPD fragments, of which mean percentage of polymorphism was found to be 42%. The UPGMA cluster analysis indicates two distinct clusters, one comprising J. podagrica , and second cluster included other five cultivars. Molecular diversity estimated in the present study for providing valid guidelines for the collection, conservation and characterization of different Jatropha species around the coastal area for plant improvement through conventional as well as molecular breeding approaches.