Evaluation of genetic diversity in selected Morus genotypes using molecular markers

Abstract

An attempt was carried out in the present investigation to estimate the extent of genetic diversity and relationship among forty four mulberry genotypes using SSR markers. A set of 26 SSR primers were used to assess the genetic diversity which generated a total of 182 bands with an average of 6.96 alleles per locus. Primer M6 produced maximum of 15 alleles per locus and minimum of 3 alleles per locus in primer Mul3SSR91. Cluster tree grouped 44 genotypes into four main clusters, A, B, C and D with sub-clusters and sub-sub clusters. Highest PIC value was recorded for SSR marker M6 (0.901) and lowest for primer Mul3SSR91 (0.486) with an average of 0.724. Genotype, NS-1 and NS-2 were identified as duplicates while other genotypes showed least similarity and recorded availability of diversity among germplasm.