Assessment of Genetic Diversity in Garlic (Allium Stttivum L.) Germ Plasm Based on Morphoagronomic Traits and Molecular Markers

Abstract

(iurlic (AIIiu111 sativu111 L.) is one of the rnost itnportant rcrnunerutive bulbous vegetables grown uf\er onion. The present investigation was conducted to assess the genetic diversity on1ong J 3 J garlic genotypes collected frorn different parts of India using twelve n1orpho-ugronomic traits and three different rnoleculur rnurkcrs ( 19 RAPD, 4 ISSR und 21 SSR) at SVPUAT .. Meerut, during rabi season of 20 14-2015. At n1orphological level, ANOY A showed significant variation (p<0.05) for all traits indicating greater variability in gcrn1plasn1. High cstitnates of genotypic coefJicient of val'iation (GCY) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PC'V) were observed for plant height, bulb weight per plant. leaf length, number of cloves per bulb and pseudostcm height and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) \vere higher in extent than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV). High heritability were obtained for all traits (>60%). High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for plant height. Bulb weight planf1 sho\ved positive significant correlation with plant height, leaf length, pseudosten1 height and diameter~ polar and equatorial dian1eter of bulb, number of cloves bulb- 1 , clove length and clove \Vcight. Path analysis revealed that highest positive effect on bulb weight planf1 was noted by the equatorial diameter of bulb (0.659) followed by clove weight (0.356). Mahalunobis D 2 analysis revealed considerable amount of diversity in the gcrmplasm. The genotypes were grouped into twelve clusters. Cluster XII (23) and IX (22) constituted ., maxin1um number of genotypes. The intra-cluster was maximum in cluster IX (D .. = 399.652) reveals maximum genetic diversity followed by cluster VIII (02 = 198.678) and cluster I (0 2~ 197. 715). 1 he inter cluster distance was tnaxin1un1 between was between cluster X and cluster XI (02 = 2657.557) exhibited maximum divergence followed cluster X and XII (02== 2490.291) suggesting that the genotypes constituted in these clusters may be used as parents for future hybridization progran1me. Traits like clove \V~ight nnd bulb weight per plant were the major contributors to genetic divergence. At n1olccular level. 19 RAPD and 4 ISSR rnurkcr generated 74 nnd 12 polyn1<wphic bands respectively und SSR produced 42 allcks wt·rc detected un1ong 131 garlic genotypes ,vith un average of 3.9 (RAPD), 3 (ISSR) und 2 (SSR) bands. ISSR showed the highest mean vuluc of polyrnorphic information content (PIC~ 0.650) und RAPD shO\\'Cd highl'st meun value of resolving power (Rp, 3.82). l 'hc utility of cuch anurkt•r t~chniquc wus cornpurcu by u ·ing n1urkcr index A//. Cluster analysis based on UPGMA .. three scpurutc dcndrognuns und one cmnbincd sirnilurity tree~ prcpal-e \viii help the genetic relation atnong gern1plusn1.