POPULATION GENETIC DIVERSITY ANALYSIS OF BIPOLARIS ORYZAE FUNGI INFECTING ORYZA SATIVA IN INDIA USING URP MARKERS

Thirty six strains of Bipolaris oryzae collected from infected seed from several locations of India were used for the analysis of genetic variability by using molecular markers. The molecular characterization using universal rice primers (URPs) was carried out, which revealed differences along with geographical origin clustering of various B. oryzae strains which otherwise could not be revealed through conventional characterization. Out of 13 URPs primers screened, 7 URPs markers gave very good reproducibility banding patterns. Polymorphic bands range between 86.3 – 100 % in URP markers. Maximum heterozygosity (Hn) was revealed by URP30F (0.26) and URP