Genetic diversity analysis in apricot (<i style="">Prunus armeniaca</i> L.) germplasms using RAPD markers

Abstract

Twenty four apricot genotypes with different geographic origins, maintained in the germplasm collections of Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar, India, were studied by means of RAPD markers. The aim of the study was to determine the genetic relationship amongst genetypes from different eco-geographical regions. Fourty three decamer primers were used in the study. All of them were polymorphic in the set of cultivars studied and allowed every genotype to be unambiguously distinguished. A dendrogram based on UPGMA analysis grouped the 24 genotypes into four main clusters with Jaccard’s similarity coefficient ranging from 0.14 to 0.86 with an average of 0.40. RAPD markers have proved to be an efficient tool for fingerprinting of cultivars and conducting genetic-diversity studies in apricot.