Genetic diversity analysis for drought tolerance in castor using EST SSR markers

Study of genetic diversity of parents is important as the crossing of diverse parents likely to produce more heterotic hybrids and desirable combinations in segregating generations. In the present study genetically distinct 14 genotypes of castor (drought tolerant and susceptible) were screened using 10 EST SSR markers. Twentythree alleles were detected and all were polymorphic. The number of alleles detected on a single locus ranged from 2 to 3 with an average of 2.3 alleles per locus. The allele size varied from 145 (REC SSR 44) to 273 bp (REC SSR 98). The PIC of EST SSR primers tested ranged from 0.43 to 0.59 with a mean of 0.51. UPGMA analysis showed that the 14 drought tolerant and susceptible castor genotypes were grouped into seven clusters with correlation coefficient ranged from 0.26 to 1.0.