Abstract

In the present investigation, five microsatellite (SSR) markers namely RM-2,RM-27,RM-72, RM-107 and RM-154 were used to estimate the genetic diversity of eightindica rice cultivars significant for rice breeding programme in the temperate Kashmir Province of India. The SSR primers used, specific to five different chromosomes, revealed distinct polymorphism among the cultivars studied indicating the robust nature of micro satellite markers in revealing polymorphism. Twenty-three (23) alleles were scored for all the SSR primers across the genotypes with a mean value of 4.6.  A total of 40 bands were scored and all were polymorphic. No primer revealed a monomorphic band in the present investigation. Number of alleles per locus varied from four (RM2) to six (RM127). Similarity coefficient (DICE) ranged from 0.2 to 0.6 with an average of 0.35. Polymorphism information content (PIC) value for the primers studied ranged from 0.22 (RM27) to 0.82 (RM154) with an average value of 0.62. No null allele was reported in the present investigation.

Key words: Genetic diversity, rice, microsatellite markers, Kashmir.