Genetic Diversity and Characterization of Ocimum sanctum Collected from Anand, Central Gujarat Region, by PCR-based RAPD Markers

Abstract

Genetic relationships were examined among thirty germplasm accessions belonging to ten Ocimum species using RAPD markers. A very high degree of polymorphism (98.92%) was observed. UPGMA cluster analysis of genetic similarity indices grouped all the accessions into two major clusters corresponding to previously reported botanical sections. Intra-clustering within the two clusters precisely grouped the accessions belonging to one species in onesub-cluster as expected from their genetic background. Results of this study show that RAPD technique is a sensitive, precise and efficient tool for genomic analysis in Ocimum species that may be useful in future studies by assigning new unclassified germplasm accessions to specific taxonomic groups and reclassifying previously classified accessions of other Ocimum species by traditional criteria on a more objective basis.

Keywords: genetic similarity, Ocimum, dendogram, RAPD, PIC