Assessment of genetic diversity of Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb germplasm growing in Jharkhand using molecular markers

Abstract

Present study is based on molecular and microbial analysis. There were four objectives-1. To assess genetic diversity within and among the populations of Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb. using molecular markers viz RAPDs and ISSRs. 2. To identify the most suitable source population(s) for future re-introduction 3. To develop genetic marker(s) for identification of plus strains of this tree species and 4. To assess the antimicrobial activity of fruits and bark of the plant. D. melanoxylon commonly known as Kendu or Tendu, is an economically important tree species of Jharkhand. Its leaves are used for making bidi . Besides contributing an important role in the economy of rural people, its leaves, barks and fruits have been used since ancient times in Indian traditional medicinal system- Ayurveda to cure a variety of diseases. The species has been selected for the assessment of their genetic diversity and antimicrobial activity because of its medicinal and commercial value. The nature and extent of genetic diversity of D. melanoxylon germplasm resources was assessed using RAPD and ISSR markers through Popgene ver.1.31, Arlequine 3.1 and NTSYS 2.02k software analysis. For assessment of population diversity status, a total of 48 germplasm growing in 8 districts of Jharkhand were collected. The RAPD fingerprints detected 73.96% polymorphism whereas ISSR fingerprints detected 85.0% polymorphism among the loci amplified. The overall genetic diversity is investigated high but the genetic diversity within each population is detected very low. Based on RAPD and ISSR data most of the variation detected was distributed between individuals within a population. The dendrogram exhibited the grouping of three out of eight population i.e; Hazaribag, Chatra and West Singhbhum into population specific clusters, and an admixture of genotypes from other areas. Results of this investigation appear to indicate that bark of D. melanoxylon have high potential antimicrobial activity. newline