Genetic diversity analysis of maintainer lines using SSR markers in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Hybrid breeding technology is one of the most feasible options to meet the future food challenges and sustainable agriculture. Genetic diversity studies determine the inherent potential of a cross for heterosis and frequency of desirable recombinants. Optimum parental diversity is required to obtain superior cross combinations in the further generations. Hence, the present study was conducted with 100 maintainer lines of rice hybrids using eighty SSR markers, out of which 16 were found to be polymorphic and 10 were monomorphic. Molecular diversity analysis revealed a total of five clusters at a similarity coefficient 0.73. Sixteen out of 80 markers were found to be polymorphic. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 8 with an average per locus of 4.5. The PIC values varied widely among SSR loci tested and ranged from a minimum 0.37 (JGT725.2) to maximum 0.76 (RM12424) with an average of 0.61. The highest similarity was observed between TCP 1128 and TCP 1145 whereas the most diverse genotypes were TCP726 and TCP816. The most diverse genotypes could be used as parents in the hybridization experiments.