Variation for Grain Morphology, Molecular Diversity and Aroma Analysis in Specialty Rice of Assam

The nature and magnitude of genetic diversity of aromatic rice accessions collected from different agro climatic zones of Assam were evaluated in the present study. Grain morphology and molecular diversity was investigated for a collection of fourteen genotypes. In molecular genetic analysis 32 random SSR markers and 1 gene- based marker (Aroma-1) were included, out of which 18 informative SSR were employed for genetic analysis on the basis of their amplification. Molecular taxonomy and genetic divergence analysis revealed considerable variation among the tested aromatic lines. Of the 18 SSR variation in 14 genotypes, the value of PIC ranged from 0.1326 (RM337) to 0.5408 (RM496). The phylogenetic relations indicate presence of diverse genetic origin of the aromatic rice collection. Aroma analysis with gene based marker (Aroma- 1) amplified a unique band in Bokul Joha which is different from rest of the genotypes indicating probable presence of alternative allelic constitution of BADH2 gene for aroma.