Genetic diversity and relationships among Lablab purpureus genotypes evaluated using RAPD as markers

Genetic variation in 40 accessions of Lablab purpureus was evaluated using random amplified polymorphic DNA as markers. A high level of genetic variation in this species was detected but this was mainly restricted to the difference between cultivated and wild forms. Of the cultivated genotypes, genetic variation among Asian collections was significantly higher than that among African collections. The three most divergent cultivated genotypes were all from Asia. Four of the five wild accessions, two from Zimbabwe and the other two from Zambia, were closely related. The other one, CPI 31113 collected from Uganda, was highly divergent. The two commercial forage varieties used in Australia, Rongai from Kenya and Highworth from India, were not very different.