DNA fingerprinting of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) using SSR markers
Student name: Ms Prakriti Sharma
Guide: Dr Anandita Singh
Year of completion: 2014
Host Organisation: National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Dr Rakesh Singh
Abstract: SSR markers are among the most informative class of molecular markers for assessment of genetic
diversity in plants. Evaluation of genetic diversity in the germplasm collection is needed to be able
to adopt effective conservation and management strategies and also facilitate their utilization in
crop improvement. In this study, DNA fingerprinting for genetic diversity analysis of 72 Indian
Chickpea (Cicer arientum L.) varieties was done with 30 SSR markers using PCR. Of these 27 and
3 markers were found to be polymorphic and monomorphic respectively. Total of 72 bands were
amplified of which 67 bands were polymorphic (93.06%) and only 5 bands are monomorphic
(6.9%) indicating considerable variability in the genotypes used in study. The 27 primer pairs
generated 69 bands with an average of 2.56 bands/primer pair with an allele size range of 50 to
495bp. Power Marker software was used for analysis of marker data and a phylogenetic tree was
generated using DARwin5 software. The tree showed the varieties grouped in to three major
clusters. Each cluster was further grouped into two sub clusters (cluster1a, 1b cluster 2a, 2b and
cluster 3a, 3b). The sub clusters 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b have grouped in them 29, 3, 26, 4, 8 and
2 genotypes respectively. The clustering and branching in the tree shows that there is large amount
of genetic variation existing among the 72 chickpea varieties which could be dissected through the
primers used in the study. The genetic diversity evaluated can provide the basis for future chickpea
crop variety identification, conservation and management. The information can also be further
utilized in breeding programs for selecting diverse parents.
Keywords: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), SSR markers, PCR, Genetic diversity,
Phylogenetic tree.
