Genetic Variation among Varieties, Wild Species and Related Genera of Arecanut (Areca catechu L.) as Revealed by Microsatellite Markers

Studies on genetic diversity of crops are crucial for germplasm conservation and crop improvement programmes. Arecanut (Areca catechu L.) is one the plantation that have been in cultivation since time immemorial tropical regions world. In this investigation, molecular characterization analysis was carried out among 20 arecanut genotypes comprising 16 cultivated types (including 13 varieties, two dwarf hybrids a natural mutant), wild species triandra Areca concinna) other genera (Normanbya normanbyii Actinorhytis calapparia), maintained National Gene Bank, Vittal, Karnataka State, India, by employing eight simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. A total 45 alleles were detected with most markers revealing five or more. The number at each locus varied from 3 (AC07 AC08) to 8 (AC23) mean 5.62 per locus. polymorphism information content (PIC) value, which measure marker locus, 0.46 (AC08) 0.84 (AC01) SSR loci, average being 0.70. effective (Ne) ranged 1.28 3.11 2.31. AC07 had lowest AC29 highest numbers alleles. Shannon’s Information Index 0.43 (AC07) 1.33 0.97. observed heterozygosity (Ho) values 0.25 1.00 an 0.73. expected (He) 0.22 0.69 0.54. degree differentiation subpopulations (FST) 0.11 (AC06) 0.66 0.32. gene flow (Nm) 0.12 1.96 value 0.52. AC01 exhibited AC06. dendrogram constructed using similarity coefficient values, following Unweighted Pair Group Method Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA), formed major clusters cluster I consisting all varieties 2 species, viz., concinna second comprised related Normanbya calapparia. between Kahikuchi Mohitnagar Nalbari Sumangala, 0.33 found genera, normanbyii, variety, Sreemangala.