APPLICATION OF RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA TO STUDY GENETIC DIVERSITY IN PASPALUM-SCROBICULATUM L (KODO MILLET, POACEAE)

Genetic diversity and patterns of geographic variation among collectio ns of Paspalum scrobiculatum (kodo millet) and P. polystachyum were st udied using molecular markers generated through the random amplified p olymorphic DNA (RAPD) method. A high level of polymorphism in RAPD mar kers was observed among the individual accessions, demonstrating the h igh genetic diversity of the crop. The markers obtained from the RAPD method were analyzed with the cluster analysis, principal coordinates and minimum spanning tree methods. Three major groups were resolved, o ne representing the African accessions, and two for the Indian accessi ons. The accessions of the north African kodo miller and P. polystachy um (considered conspecific with P. scrobiculatum) were quite distinct. The Australian kodo miller showed higher affinity to the African type s. The study demonstrated that the RAPD technique can be applied to re solving degrees and patterns of genetic variation at the population an d species levels, identifying cultivars, and defining gene pools of th is crop.