Genetic variability in proso millet [Panicum miliaceum] germplasm of Central Himalayan Region based on morpho-physiological traits and molecular markers

Abstract

Sixteen representative a ccessions of proso millet [Panicum miliaceum] having distinct traits of agronomic importance were collected from altitudinal range of 510–2,695 m asl in the Central Himalayan Region (CHR) of India. Considerable diversity was found in morpho-physiological traits viz., leaf length (16.80–32.00 cm), leaf width (1.7–2.1 cm), plant height (57.00–134.00 cm), days to 50 % flowering (34–54), days to 80 % maturity (111–144), and 1,000 seed weight (0.68–1.86 g). Collected accessions have been evaluated for a battery of biochemical parameters viz., chlorophyll, carotenoids, lipid peroxidation, cellular hydrogen peroxide, activity of nitrate reductase, lipoxygenase, catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase along with super oxide free radical formation, glutathione (total, reduced, and oxidized), glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, ascorbate (total, reduced, and oxidized), monodehydroascorbate reductase, and didehydroascorbate reductase. The sets of 12 genic-SSRs (simple sequence repeats), 54 ISSR (inter simple sequence repeats), and 40 SRAP (sequence related amplified polymorphism) markers were used to study the level of genetic diversity, and Nei’s gene diversity value of 0.20 was obtained with both ISSR and SRAP markers. SRAP markers showed higher average number of polymorphic bands, % polymorphism, polymorphic information content (PIC), and Shannon information index compared to ISSR markers; genic-SSRs showed no allelic variation. Cluster analysis shows close groupings of germplasm based on morpho-physiological traits as well as molecular markers. The diverse germplasm identified based on molecular markers with considerable diversity in morpho-physiological traits may be utilized for development of climate resilient cultivars.