AGRO- MORPHOLOGICAL AND RAPD MARKER BASED CHARACTERIZATION OF GENETIC DIVERSITY IN DIFFERENT GENOTYPES OF WITHANIA SOMNIFERA L. DUNAL

Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is an industrially important plant for production of glycowithanolides consisting of sitoindusides VII to X and withaferin ‘A’. In the present study thirty genotypes of Withania somnifera (L) Dunal also known as Ashwagandha were collected from three different states of India and genetic diversity analysis was carried out using agro morphological characters and RAPD markers. Data obtained was used to determine the component trait variation, magnitude of correlation between root yield and quality traits along with path coefficient during kharif season. A high magnitude of phenotypic coefficient of variation was observed for root length, plant height, and seed yield per plant. Heritability in broad sense and genetic advance were found to be moderate to high and highly significant positive correlation was observed between root yield and plant height followed by root length. Path analysis revealed direct contribution of plant height followed by root length for root yield. Sixty two RAPD primers were screened out of which, 46 primers showed amplification. Forty two out of the forty six primers showed 87.28 per cent polymorphism. In total 236 bands were obtained of which 206 were polymorphic. Estimates of genetic similarity ranged from 0.18 to 0.90 showing a wide genetic base. The genotypes collected from different locations did not formed well defined distinct clusters and were interspersed with each other and was further supported by morphological results. Molecular markers in combination with morphological traits could be potential source for Ashwangandha improvement as the roots of the plant associated with rejuvenation makes it medicinally important.