Relationship of status of polymorphic rapd bands with genotypic adaptation in early finger millet genotypes

Molecular characterisation of the 15 early duration finger millet (Eleusine coracana G) genotypes was done through RAPD markers. Twenty-five decamer primers were used for initial screening. Of these nine primers (OPA4, OPA13, OPA16, OPC12, OPC18, OPD8, OPN7, OPN15 and OPN16) showed polymorphic banding pattern for the genotypes. Total number of bands produced ranged from 2 to 9 bands per primer. The nine primers produced 60 amplification products, of which 9 were monomorphic and 51 were polymorphic. Theprimers OPA4, OPC18 and OPN15 produced a greater number of polymorphic bands than OPA16 and OPN16. Polymorphism ranged from 50 to 100%. Primers OPA13, OPC18 and OPN15 revealed 100% polymorphism, whereas OPA16 and OPN16 showed 50%. In order to study the relationship of presence/absence of a polymorphicband with genotypic adaptation, the 15 early finger millet genotypes were classified into ‘+’ group for presence and ‘–’ group for absence of the band-OPA4~1800 bp, OPC12~900 bp, OPD8~850 bp, OPN7~2600 bp, OPN15~2500 bp, OPN15~900 bp and OPN16~2600 bp. The genotypes were also classified into highyielding(HY) and low-yielding (LY) classes, two adaptability classes, i.e. specifically adapted to rich environments and specifically adapted to poor environments and into two stability classes, i.e. stable(S) and unstable (U). This experiment revealed that the presence of OPA4~1800 bp and absence of OPN15~900 bp bands in fingermillet may give some indication about specific adaptability of genotypes to poor environments. Absence of OPA4~1800 bp and presence of OPN15~900 bp would indicate specific genotypic adaptation to rich environments. These findings may help to predict the genotypic adaptation of different genotypes before going for multilocation trial