Molecular and morphological divergence studies in Indian potato varieties

Abstract

Genetic diversity analysis of 32 commercial Indian potato varieties was done using four multi-loci SSR (123 alleles at 12 loci), 14 RAPD (168 alleles) and 21 morphological markers. 2D PCO analysis in general, gave a better picture of the genetic divergence as they had low influence of any specific allele/marker. Though the degree of divergence varied, overall placement patterns were similar to a large extent in all the three PCO studies, except that in RAPD studies this was defined by the second component of the axis. These results were also reflected in a consensus 2D-scatter plot derived from mean placement values of the three PCOs, which showed that Indian varieties were placed into three separate groups. Solanum demissum derived late blight resistant varieties formed a closely placed group and andigena type varieties released prior to late blight programme formed a diverse group. Third group composed of either traditional tuberosum varieties or recently released neotuberosum showed overlapping pattern.