DNA Fingerprinting and Population Structure of Date Palm Varieties Grown in Punjab Pakistan using Simple Sequence Repeat Markers

Fingerprinting is a powerful tool to distinguish closely related cultivars.In this study 209 SSR markers were used for DNA fingerprinting of 13 date palm varieties of Punjab, Pakistan.191 SSR markers were amplified and 163 were found polymorphic.A total of 927 alleles were amplified (with 4.84 alleles per locus) among which 597 were polymorphic (with 3.65 polymorphic alleles per locus).Maximum number of alleles and polymorphic alleles per locus were 23 and 16 respectively for marker PDAG1018.Maximum polymorphic information content (0.95) was also recorded for PDAG1018.Genetic similarity coefficients were calculated and dendrogram was constructed using Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Averages.Khalas, AseelKhumba & Khupra were assigned to group I whereas Ajwa, Zahidi and Khurma were classified to group III.Group II contains 07 genotypes which were subdivided to 03 subgroups.Shamran and Amber were classified to group IIa, Hallawi, Khudri & Shakri to group IIb and Haleni & Barhi to IIc.Structure analysis results were in line to cluster analysis.The genotypes classified in group II were admixture with mixed genetic backgrounds.Whereas group I and III members have similar genetic backgrounds within group and have common ancestors.Further, DNA fingerprints were available for 12 varieties out of 13 except Hallawi which is identified using 02 step methods.The information generated in this study will be helpful in variety registration process under Plant Breeders Rights and variety protection and right choice of SSRs for genetic diversity studies.