Genetic Diversity Analysis of Traditional Rice Variety ̳Pachchaperumal‘ Using SSR Markers

Assessing the genetic diversity for miniaturization of crop collections to form mini core collection will lead to greater utilization of germplasm to develop improved crop cultivars along with effective maintenance of it. It has become vital to perform this for traditional Rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties when considering the arising demand for their qualities. This study was conducted to assess the genetic diversity of twenty ̳Pachchaperumal‘ traditional Rice accessions with two control varieties Bg360 and ̳Suwandal‘ Rice, conserved at the Seed Genebank of Plant Genetic Resources Center, Gannoruwa, Sri Lanka. Morphological analysis was done using seven standard seed morphological descriptors of Rice and, Molecular analysis was done using 16 SSR primers. Statistical analysis was done for morphological and molecular data using MINITAB 15 and POPGENE 1.31 softwares respectively. Strategy of bulking accessions was tested in this study relying on seed morphological clustering and those bulks were used in the molecular analysis. Results revealed a significant degree of genetic diversity among tested accessions both morphologically and molecularly, and molecular results were more contributive. Two distinct accessions were identified as potential off types of ̳Pachchaperumal‘, accession numbers 3752 and 5547. Cluster analysis based on morphological traits generated seven major clusters at 1.62 relative distance. Depending on the pattern of clustering, ten bulks were formed. The molecular analysis based on bulks, generated five clusters in a relative genetic distance of 9.0. Eleven accessions were distinguished as representative set out of all 20 accessions and according to passport data 3 of them were Bg accessions, 5550, 5549 and 5546.