Establishing distinctiveness in local maize (Zea mays L.) varieties using RAPD marker as additional descriptor for protection under PPV&FR Act

Abstract

The molecular identification profiles were established in the present work for 24 local maize varieties with 10
RAPD markers to incorporate the fingerprint, as complementary information to the standard registration data on
DUS morphological descriptors. It resulted in 172 informative RAPD loci. UPGMA analysis of RAPD marker
loci could discriminate all the varieties except Khusalpur Local-4 and Nunawala Local-5. These primers could
establish unique molecular identification profiles (MIPs) for a total of 14 varieties. Mean polymorphic information
content (PIC), average expected gene diversity, average resolving power (Rp) and diversity index (DI) of RAPD
markers used were high which reflected that RAPD marker is an efficient tool to establish distinctiveness among
the present set of experimental material. Principal component analysis (PCA) of RAPD data supported UPGMA
clustering results. Thus, the present investigation reflects that molecular markers are new possibilities as additional
descriptor to characterize the plant cultivars for registration purposes under PPV&FR Act.