ISOZYME POLYMORPHISM AND GENETIC DIVERSITY IN GARLIC (ALLIUM SATIVUM 1.) GERMPLASM

Abstract

Twenty-three accessions of garlic (Allium sativum L.) collected
from five diverse agro-dimatic regions of India differing for various
agro-morphological traits were analysed for isozyme polymorphism.
Esterase, superoxide dismutase and catalase were the enzymes studied.
Esterase and superoxide dismutase showed polymorphism to some extent.
However, catalase was observed to be monomorphic. The study
indicated that there was less genetic diversity among the garlic germplasm
analysed. Broader groupings of the accessions was possible even though
the enzyme systems studied were not ideal for 'fingerprinting' of
germplasm. The implications of the findings with reference to genetic
diversity in garlic germplasm and the usefulness of the isozyme technique
for germplasmcharaeterisajion has been discussed