RAPD profiling of some elite clones of mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata Blanco) in the North Eastern Himalayan Region of India

Abstract

SummaryRandomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to estimate the genetic diversity of 25 phenotypically elite, nucellar clones of mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata Blanco), selected from seven locations in three geographically separate states of the North Eastern Himalayan Region of India. The 15 decamer primers generated 106 randomly amplified DNA fragments that were used as the genetic markers. The Squared Euclidean Distance measurement showed 65% maximum and 11% minimum genetic dissimilarity between the plant selections. By Ward’s cluster analysis, the 25 individual plant selections were classified into two major clusters, having 15 and 10 plants each. Plants of one location were distributed within both of the two major clusters. The two major clusters were further divided into two sub-clusters each.The plants collected from three separate locations each were exclusive to these sub-clusters. Results of the analysis indicated the existence of large genetic differences among the plants of different locations and also within a single location of the region. Genetic similarity among the plants taken from geographically separated locations was also evident. The study confirms the existence of wide genetic diversity of mandarin orange plants in the North Eastern Himalyan Region of India that can be used in mandarin orange plant improvement programmes.