Phylogenetic Relationship Between Some Cultivars of Cucurbita Species in Southwest Nigeria Using RAPD Analysis

Cucurbits are economic crops in Nigeria, which not only taken to overcome nutritional deficiency but also good sources of income for farmers. The taxonomy the members family Cucurbitaceae had been a challenge botanists Nigeria as result many overlaps group, hence confusion proper identification members. Randomized Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were employed study genetic diversity among species Curcubita collected from three Southwestern states Nigeria. Six out thirteen studied primers amplified total 74 polymorphic bands and 83 Allele numbers. exhibited very high percentage polymorphism. cluster analysis showed that least distance was observed between samples ONWL II, IFCL III, ISEL I. locations (ONWL III) exhibit strongest level homogeneity. heterozygosity can provide valuable information improve breeding . It be useful studying germplasm material or gene flow further evaluation. Keywords: Curcurbitae, RAPD, Heterozygosity, Polymorphism, Accession, DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/13-12-04 Publication date: July 31 st 2023