RAPD Based Molecular Diversity Analysis of Different Alternaria carthami Isolates of Safflower in Maharashtra.

Genetic diversity in safflower blight pathogen (Alternaria carthami) was analyzed using 20 isolates collected from major safflower growing regions of Maharashtra state in India. Experiment was conducted at Department of Agricultural Bioatechnology, College of Agriculture, Latur, VNMKV, Parbhani (M.S.). Genomic DNA extracted from each isolates of Alternaria carthami was subjected to polymerase chain reaction using 20 random decamer primers from OPA series. Only 08 of the 20 RAPD primers were selected based on repeatability. Result revealed that 100 per cent polymorphism were found. The dendrogram analysis revealed two clusters, Cluster I comprised twelve isolates viz., Ac-1, Ac-8, Ac-4, Ac-5, Ac-7, Ac-11, Ac-18, Ac-15, Ac-17, Ac-9, Ac-20 and Ac-19 with similarity coefficient of 77 per cent. Cluster II comprised of eight isolates viz., Ac-2, Ac-3, Ac-6, Ac-13, Ac-12, Ac-14, Ac-10 and Ac-16 with similarity coefficient of 76 per cent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]