The extent of genetic diversity among popular rice cultivars of Andhra pradesh and Telangana using microsatellite markers

Genetic diversity among 35 rice varieties was investigated using 68 hyper variable polymorphic microsatellite markers to have more insights into the varietal diversity for future selection strategies in development of tailor made rice varieties suitable to different ecological niches of the state.  In 68 polymorphic markers, a total of 298 alleles were detected with a range of 2 to 13 with an average allele number (Na) of 4.3 per locus. The Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) values ranged from 0.36 (RM24015) to 0.97 (RM 25310) with an average of 0.85. Overall estimation of number of alleles (Na) and genetic diversity index (He) indicated low to moderate level of diversity among the cultivars.  The research station wise estimation on number of alleles (Na) and genetic diversity index (He) clearly indicated that the varieties developed from Rajendranagar varieties exhibited maximum while, Nellore varieties with minimum followed by Jagtial and varieties from remaining stations showed moderate values for both the parameters. The cluster analysis grouped 35 varieties into six clusters. The cultivars developed from Rajendranagar, Maruteru and Warangal tends to group together and the other station varieties are clustered in different groups.   The results of this study revealed that genetic diversity among the varieties released from different research stations is moderate and thus warrants the breeders of particularly ARS, Nellore and RARS, Jagtial to broaden the genetic base by selecting diverse parents while making crosses.