Abstract

The genetic diversity analysis of eight populations of Nardostachys jatamansi DC.collected from different altitude of Central Himalaya has been attempted using 24 sets of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers. These sets of RAPD marker generated a total of 346 discernible and reproducible bands across the analysed population with 267 polymorphic and 75 monomorphic bands. The unweighted pair group method with arithmetic average (UPGMA) cluster analysis revealed three distinct clusters: I, II and III. The cluster I was represented by N. jatamansi population collected from Panwali Kantha (3200 m asl) and Kedarnath (3584 m asl), India together with Jumla (2562 m asl) from Nepal. Cluster II included collections from Har Ki Doon (3400 m asl) and Tungnath (3600 m asl) from India while Cluster III was represented by collections from Munsiyari (2380 m asl), Dayara (3500 m asl) and Valley of Flowers (3400 m asl) from India. The clustering of these populations was independent of variations in altitude and geographical locations. The genetic variations observed in different populations of Jatamansi might be due to environmental influences (biotic and abiotic), rather than altitude level differences. The abiotic (geographical or climatic differentiation) and biotic (pollination between population and seed dispersal) factors might be responsible for the genetic variations among these accessions of Jatamansi.

Key words: Genetic diversity, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD),Nardostachys jatamansi, Central Himalaya, unweighted pair group method with arithmetic average (UPGMA).