A set of 155 hybrid parents was characterized at molecular
level using 24 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers.The
number of alleles amplified ranged from 3 to 41 at an average
of 14.5 alleles per marker and mean polymorphic information
content (PIC) value of 0.64. Based on genetic diversity, three
heterotic groups were constituted. Male sterile (A) lines
were distributed into two heterotic groups, while the fertility
restorer (R) lines formed three heterotic groups. Of the 135
restorers studied, 51 (37.78%) were classified in heterotic
group I, and 75 (55.56%) in heterotic group II. Six interspecific
derivatives and three other genotypes constituted
the heterotic group III. These observations indicated the
presence of limited genetic diversity among A and R lines.
Based on the present results, it is recommended that for
breeding high yielding pigeonpea hybrids, more attention
be given to develop new genetically diverse hybrid parents.
Keywords: Genetic diversity, heterotic group, pigeonpea, polymorphism, SSR markers
Year: 2015
Volume: 75
Issue: 1
Article DOI: 10.5958/0975-6906.2015.00006.1
Print ISSN: 0019-5200
Online ISSN: 0975-6906
Bharathi Mudaraddi info_circle
K. B. Saxena info_circle