EVALUATION OF GENETIC SIMILARITY AND AGRONOMIC TRAITS OF CASTOR BEAN POPULATIONS NATURALLY GROWN IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN REGION OF TURKEY

Genetic characterization of wild castor bean genotypes collected from the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey was evaluated by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of seed storage proteins. Five distinct groups were identified from the cluster analysis of the castor bean genotypes studied at 0.80 coefficient level. Cluster analysis showed that some of the genotypes from the same location were grouped separately. Genetic similarity coefficients ranged from 0.36 to 0.95 among genotypes. The highest similarity (95%) was obtained between Iskenderun-1 and Iskenderun-2; Adana-4 and Iskenderun-2; Iskenderun-4 and Mersin-1. In addition to genetic diversity, plant characteristics such as stem color, seed color, days to maturity, plant height, main spike length, 100-seed weight and seed yield per plant were recorded. The results of both genetic similarity and agronomic analysis of castor bean genotypes would help in planning breeding programs for improving high yielding cultivars.Genetic characterization of wild castor bean genotypes collected from the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey was evaluated by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of seed storage proteins. Five distinct groups were identified from the cluster analysis of the castor bean genotypes studied at 0.80 coefficient level. Cluster analysis showed that some of the genotypes from the same location were grouped separately. Genetic similarity coefficients ranged from 0.36 to 0.95 among genotypes. The highest similarity (95%) was obtained between Iskenderun-1 and Iskenderun-2; Adana-4 and Iskenderun-2; Iskenderun-4 and Mersin-1. In addition to genetic diversity, plant characteristics such as stem color, seed color, days to maturity, plant height, main spike length, 100-seed weight and seed yield per plant were recorded. The results of both genetic similarity and agronomic analysis of castor bean genotypes would help in planning breeding programs for improving high yielding cultivars.