MOLECULAR MARKERS ASSISTED GENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF SOME SELECTED WILD POACEAE SPECIES

Abstract Genetic diversity of ten selected wild species belonging to family Poaceae was assessed by using RAPD markers. The species consisted of Tragus roxburgii, Eragrostis poaeoides, Brachiaria distachya, Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Setaria glauca, Setaria verticillata, Chrysopogon aucheri, Heteropogon contortus, Saccharum spontaneum and Themeda anathera. In total 10 primers of OPC series were used, of which 9 primers gave reproducible amplifications. Out of 139 bands produced, 92 bands were shown to be polymorphic leading to 66% polymorphism across the species. NTSYS cluster analysis showed 59% similarity among the selected species indicating their common phylogenetic origin and more genetic stability during evolution. The genetic similarity index value ranged from 0.51 to 0.89. The results indicated high level of genetic diversity among grass species on the basis of RAPD technique. There is need to study other members of family Poaceae from different populations by using other molecular markers