A Comparative Analysis of Genetic Diversity in Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelec) Cultivars based on RAPD and ISSR Markers

Two molecular techniques, RAPD and ISSR were used to study the genetic relatedness in 37 genotypes of chrysanthemum. With 27 RAPDs and 10 ISSRs, a total of 271 and 107 polymorphic bands were generated accounting to 97.4% and 93.86% polymorphism respectively. Both kinds of markers could able to distinguish all the genotypes. Based on RAPD, ISSR and combination of RAPD and ISSR markers, dendrograms were constructed according to Jaccard’s Coefficient of similarity. Though the results obtained from cluster analysis based on RAPD and ISSR data sets were different, the genotypes Snow Cem and Ratlam Selection; Akitha and Shintome as well were clustered in one group in both the clusters indicating the efficiency of two systems. This was also reflected in the correlation coefficient calculated based on similarity matrices of RAPD and ISSR by using Mantel test. Although the value of correlation coefficient between RAPD and ISSR markers was significant as r = 0.3906, indicating that there is a faint concordance between RAPDs and ISSRs. This inferred that the two sets of markers explore genetic variation differently among the chrysanthemum genotypes. The data generated in the present investigation provide information useful not only for selection programmes for further improvement of chrysanthemum, but also for the establishment of relationship among genotypes worldwide.