Evaluation of genetic diversity in the Himalayan poplar using RAPD markers

The current investigation reports the evaluation and identification of gene tic diversity in P. ciliata using the RAPD assay. Eighteen random decamer p rimers were used to assess variation within twenty five different clones, r epresenting various provenances fi om the Himalayan region. A total of 159 amplification produces were obtained of which 111 were polymorphic while th e remaining were monomorphic in nature, informative primers producing high multiplex ratio were identified from the study The potential utility of the se primers for large scale screening of germplasm and designing conservatio n strategies in the species has been discussed. The JACCARD'S similarity co efficient and the UPGMA clustering method were employed to construct the ph ylogenetic tree. The dendrogram revealed a high level of variation between the clones which was found to lie in accordance to the diversity observed u sing morphological data. Two distinct clusters namely C1 and C2 were identi fied. The cluster C1 comprised of twenty three of the twenty five accessions and was thus designated to be the major cluster while C2 consisted of only two clones and was thus considered to be a minor cluster: The major cluster CI was comprised of distinct sub-clusters which were found to be in concordanc e to their geographical distribution. Highest Similarity within the major c luster was detected between the clones Katrain and Karain Bihal while the c lone Lidder was found to be the most distinct. Bootstrap analysis and princ ipal coordinate (PCO) analysis was performed which supported the pattern of clustering in the dendrogram. The clustering of the other clones in relati on to their geographical location has been discussed.