DNA-FINGERPRINTING OF BRASSICA-JUNCEA CULTIVARS USING MICROSATELLITE PROBES

The genetic variability in the Brassica juncea cultivars was detected by employing in-gel hybridization of restricted DNA to simple repetiti ve sequences such as (GATA)(4), (GACA)(4) and (CAC)(5). The most infor mative probe/enzyme combination was (GATA)(4)/EcoRI, yielding highly p olymorphic fingerprint patterns for the B. juncea cultivars. This tech nique was found to be dependable for establishing the variety specific patterns for most of the cultivars studied, a prerequisite for germpl asm preservation. The results of the present study were compared with those reported in our earlier study in which random amplification of p olymorphic DNA (RAPD) was used for assessing the genetic variability i n the B. juncea cultivars.