Molecular Profiling of Landraces of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Using ISSR Markers

Abstract

Six accessions of cassava viz., C1 (Narrow leaved - MNS-13-1), C2 (Devan Kappa - SRA-13-1), C3 (Pullad Kappa - MNS-13-5), C4 (Karutha Malabar), C5 (MNS-AICRP) and C6 (Pullad Kappa) maintained in the field genebank of Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Sreekariyam, Thiruvananathapuram were subjected for molecular analysis using 5 selected ISSR primers. UBC 808 produced highest number of bands (12) and UBC 817 produced the lowest number of bands (3) while UBC 845 is not amplified. The percentage polymorphism of the ISSR primers studied ranged from 33.3% - 100%. UBC 817 recorded the lowest polymorphism (33.3%) and UBC 808 recorded the highest Polymorphism (100%). The similarity coefficient based on ISSR markers ranged from 0.55 to 0.86. The dendrogram generated using UPGMA cluster analysis separated the 6 accessions of cassava in to 3 major groups with 2 accessions each. The accessions C1 (Narrow leaved - MNS-13-1) and C5 (MNS-AICRP) formed a ball cluster with 86% genetic similarity were found to be highly related. Likewise, C3 (Pullad Kappa - MNS-13-5) and C4 (Karutha Malabar) also formed a ball cluster showing 86% genetic similarity. C3 (Pullad Kappa - MNS-13-5) and C4 (Karutha Malabar) recorded 80% genetic relatedness with C1 (Narrow leaved - MNS-13-1) and C5 (MNS-AICRP). Likewise, C2 (Devan Kappa - SRA-13-1) and C6 (Pullad Kappa) also showed 80% genetic similarity with each other. C2 (Devan Kappa - SRA-13-1) and C6 (Pullad Kappa) recorded only 67% genetic relatedness with C3 (Pullad Kappa - MNS-13-5), C4 (Karutha Malabar), C1 (Narrow leaved - MNS-13-1) and C5 (MNS-AICRP). However, the two accessions C3 and C6 of the landrace Pullad Kappa got separated with only 67% genetic similarity. The dendrogram generated grouped the accessions and species on the basis of Nei genetic distance using unweighted pair group method with arithmetic average (UPGMA) cluster analysis. The results of the study indicated that the primers selected for the present study will be useful for future genetic analysis of cassava germplasm and hence provide breeders with a genetic basis for selection of parent for crop improvement programs.