Abstract

Genetic improvement of the thirty Hyacinth bean cultivars from different races were evaluated using RAPD markers which is essential to enhance the crop for economically and agriculturally important traits. RAPD markers were efficient in separating cultivars according to different races. Twenty six decamer primers could generate a total number of 148 bands out which 70.27% (104) were polymorphic. The number of amplification products produced by each primer varied from 4 to 9 with an average of 5.69 bands per primer. The size of amplified fragments ranged from 250 to 3000 bp. RAPD based dendrogram showed similarity ranged from 0.38 to 0.96. Genetic distances were concluded using Sorenson Dices similarity coefficient. The genetic relationship obtained with these markers was dissimilar to that provided by morpho-agronomical trait. Genetically distinct cultivars were identified that could be potentially important source of germplasm for further crop improvement programme in the country.

Key words: Lablab purpureus, Hyacinth bean, genotypes, genetic variation, dendrogram, RAPD marker.