GENETIC FINGERPRINTING OF PIGEONPEA [CAJANUS-CAJAN (L) MILLSP] AND ITS WILD RELATIVES USING RAPD MARKERS

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used for the id entification of pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] cultivars and t heir related wild species. The use of single primers of arbitrary nucl eotide sequence resulted in the selective amplification of DNA fragmen ts that were unique to individual accessions. The level of polymorphis m among the wild species was extremely high, while little polymorphism was detected within Cajanus cajan accessions. All of the cultivars an d wild species under study could be easily distinguished with the help of different primers, thereby indicating the immense potential of RAP D in the genetic fingerprinting of pigeonpea. On the basis of our data the genetic relationship between pigeonpea cultivars and its wild spe cies could be established.