Applicability of SCoT markers for detection of variations in Fusarium yellows resistant lines of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) induced through gamma irradiations

Abstract Fusarium yellows tolerant/resistant lines of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) var. Himgiri generated through in vitro mutation induction using gamma irradiations followed by selection on Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. zingiberi culture filtrate (FCF) were evaluated under in vivo conditions and screened at molecular level using SCoT (Start codon targeted) markers. Thirty-six primers were used to evaluate genetic variations among all the selected lines and compared to gamma-irradiated and tissue culture propagated plants taken as control. A total of forty-nine (49) amplicons were produced with thirteen primers resulting in 45.27% polymorphism. The average polymorphic information content (PIC) value for all SCoT markers was found to be 0.48 with 0.108 effective multiplex ratio (E) and 0.052 Marker Index (MI) whereas, Jaccard's similarity coefficient showed a distance range from 0.42 to 0.98. Dendrogram prepared using UPGMA clustering analysis divided the experimental lines into two main clusters. All the Fusarium tolerant/resistant lines selected at 12.5 and 15% FCF selection pressure grouped in cluster I showing high level of similarity with gamma-irradiated and tissue culture propagated controls. Cluster II comprised of all the Fusarium tolerant/resistant lines from 17.5% FCF selection. Hence, suggesting the applicability of SCoT markers for evaluation of different ginger genotypes for Fusarium resistance, in the future.