Genetic diversity analysis of Plantago species and their interspecific hybrids through RAPD marker

The present investigation of genetic diversity analysis of six Plantago species and their interspecific hybrids was carried out using RAPD markers in the molecular genetics laboratory of the Department of Agricultural Botany, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand during the year 2008-09. The data collected from random amplification of polymorphic DNA with seven arbitrary oligonucleotide primers produced a total 139 DNA fragments. Among these, 134 fragments were found to be polymorphic. The mean number of polymorphic bands per primer among Plantago genotypes was 19.14. The size of PCR amplified DNA fragments ranged from 145 to 6401 bp. The highest polymorphism (100%) was exhibited by primers OPA-07, OPA-11, OPA-13, OPB-07 and OPB-17, while the lowest polymorphism (80.95%) was detected with OPA-18. The average polymorphism detected by the RAPD loci in the present investigation was 96.63%. Cluster analysis revealed that at about 16% genetic similarities, the genotypes were clustered in their respective groups. The basic information generated in the present study will be very useful in framing new breeding programmes for Plantago.