Studies on genetic variability in Ceratocystis fimbriata Ell. and Halst. incitant of Pomegranate wilt in Karnataka using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers

Abstract

Pomegranate wilt disease incited by Ceratocystis fimbriata Ell. and Halst. is one of the important diseases of pomegranate adversely affecting crop cultivation in all major growing regions of India. Nine isolates of the fungus selected from different geographical regions of Karnataka were analysed through four RAPD primers viz., A3, A9, A13 and B10 for genetic variability. The primers showed amplification of different isolates with polymorphism between the isolates. Out of the 28 marker loci amplified, 13 were found to be specific for five species and only two loci were common in all nine samples indicating 83.20 per cent polymorphism. Dendrogram obtained from RAPD analysis indicated three major clusters, which separated Cf-R from rest of the isolates, The isolates from Cf-Ct, Cf-H, Cf -K, Cf-T and Cf-B were grouped in second cluster. While, third cluster includes Cf-Bg, Cf-C and Cf-V isolates.