Assessment of genetic diversity in Iranian north-western chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) landraces and cultivars using RAPD markers.

The success of crop breeding programs largely relies on the presence of genetic diversity in germplasm resources and knowledge about genotype relationships. Molecular markers are used successfully in assessment of genetic diversity in crop plants. In the present study, RAPD markers were used to evaluate genetic diversity among 30 genotypes of chickpea (15 landraces from northwestern of Iran and 15 cultivars). The results showed high genetic diversity among the chickpea genotypes, particularly among Iranian landraces. Among the 33 RAPD primers were in PCR reaction, 21 primers amplified genomic DNA, and 17 of these produced bands that were legible and reproducible. The 17 RAPD primers produced 117 polymorphic bands in the 30 studied genotypes (average of 6.9 bands per primer). Number of bands ranged from one (primer 5´CACTCGTGAG3´) to 10 (primers 5’GTAGCGATCC3' and 5’TGCACGTCAG3). Higher number of bands for each primer indicates the existence of large genetic diversity among the studied genotypes. Among the primers, 5’CACTCGTGAG3' produced a fragment that was specific to AzarShahr landrace, it may be used therefore, as a marker to differentiate some special genotypes of chickpea from other cultivars. Cluster analysis based on RAPD data and using average linkage method based on Nei and Li coefficient, assigned the genotypes in five main groups. Based on both cluster analysis and principle component analysis, AzarShahr landrace was separated from other landraces.