Detection of favorable alleles for yield and yield components by association mapping in upland cotton

Association mapping based on linkage disequilibrium provides a promising tool for dissecting the genetic basis underlying complex traits. To reveal the genetic variations of yield and yield components traits in upland cotton, 403 upland cotton accessions were collected and analyzed by 560 genome-wide simple sequence repeats (SSRs). A diverse panel consisting of 403 upland cotton accessions was grown in six different environments, and the yield and yield component traits were measured, and 560 SSR markers covering the whole genome were mapped. Association studies were performed to uncover the genotypic and phenotypic variations using a mixed linear model. Favorable alleles and typical accessions for yield traits were identified. A total of 201 markers were polymorphic, revealing 394 alleles. The average gene diversity and polymorphism information content were 0.556 and 0.483, respectively. Based on a population structure analysis, 403 accessions were divided into two subgroups. A mixed linear model analysis of the association mapping detected 43 marker loci according to the best linear unbiased prediction and in at least three of the six environments(??lgP?>?1.30, P?<?0.05). Among the 43 associated markers, five were associated with more than two traits simultaneously and nine were coincident with those identified previously. Based on phenotypic effects, favorable alleles and typical accessions that contained the elite allele loci related to yield traits were identified and are widely used in practical breeding. This study detected favorable quantitative trait loci’s alleles and typical accessions for yield traits, these are excellent genetic resources for future high-yield breeding by marker-assisted selection in upland cotton in China.     

Molecular markers linked to the Rf2 fertility restorer gene in cotton.

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a maternally inherited trait in which plants do not produce viable pollen. Fertility in plants with CMS can be recovered by nuclear restorer genes. Most restorer genes cloned so far are members of the pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein family. The objective of our study was to use the CMS-D8 and restoration (Rf2) system of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) to develop more DNA markers for the Rf2 gene. In a backcross population with 112 plants, segregation of male fertility was 1 fertile : 1 sterile. Three new RAPD markers were identified for Rf2, one of which was converted to a CAPS marker. In addition, 2 AFLP markers and 1 SSR marker were identified to be linked to the fertility restorer gene (Rf2). PPR motif primers were designed based on the conserved PPR motifs and used in combination with AFLP primers to test the mapping population, and 1 PPR-AFLP marker was identified. A linkage map with 9 flanking markers including 1 from a previous study was constructed.     

Identification and mapping of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers linked to resistance against beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) in Beta accessions

Molecular markers linked to resistance genes are useful to facilitate the introgression of one or more of these genes in breeding materials. Following the approach of bulked segregant analysis, RAPD markers linked to resistance genes against beet necrotic yellow vein virus were identified in the four Beta accessions Holly-1-4, R104, R128 and WB42. Two primers were found which generate RAPD markers tightly linked to resistance in segregating families of Holly-1-4, R104 and R128, indicating that the resistance genes in these accessions might be situated at the same locus. Other, specific, primers were identified which generate RAPD markers linked to resistance in each of these accessions. Short-range maps were established around the resistance locus in these accessions. For WB42, RAPD markers were only identified at a relatively large distance from the resistance gene. Conversion of three RAPD primers of Holly-1-4, R104 and R128 into STS primers resulted in STS markers which can be readily used for marker-assisted selection in breeding programmes. Received: 8 January 1996 / Accepted: 14 June 1996     

Assessment of genetic diversity in Colletotrichum falcatum Went accessions based on RAPD and ISSR markers

Sugarcane is susceptible to red rot disease caused by phytopathogenic fungus Colletotrichum falcatum Went which ultimately affect the economy of farmers as well as sugar based industry. One of the various ways to control this devastating disease is to develop disease resistance sugarcane cultivar and this requires the complete understanding of genetic makeup of pathogen. Although South Gujarat is well known sugarcane cultivating area, less published data can be found about PCR-based genetic diversity in prevalent C. falcatum accessions. So, present investigation aims at finding molecular variation among the ten accessions of C. falcatum using RAPD and ISSR molecular markers. A total of 35 RAPD and 39 ISSR primers were screened across 10 C. falcatum accessions, of which 15 RAPD and 21 ISSR primers have showed consistent amplification. Statistics related to genetic variation were estimated using NTSYS-PC by means of Dice’s coefficient. The results revealed 80.6% and 68.07% polymorphism and similarity coefficient ranged from 0.43 to 0.91 and 0.73 to 0.93 in RPAD and ISSR analysis respectively. The dendrogram generated using RAPD, ISSR and combined RAPD-ISSR grouped accessions into different clusters which reveal considerable level molecular variation among the C. falcatum accessions. It is also evident from PCA plots that accessions are rather dispersed with tested marker systems indicating good genetic base. So, in nut shell, we found considerable genetic variation and relatedness within C. falcatum accessions collected from different areas of south Gujarat, India using RAPD and ISSR markers.     

Linkage analysis of a fertility restoring mutant generated from CMS rice

 DNA polymorphism between a cytoplasmic male-sterile rice line II-32A, the male-fertile maintainer counterpart II-32B, a fertile revertant (T24), as well as two commercial indica restorers, was analyzed with randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). A very low degree of polymorphism was found between the revertant T24 and II-32A compared with that of indica rice varieties. This result, together with agronomic and genetic evidence, suggests the revertant to be a product of a nuclear mutation. An analysis of polymorphism between II-32A and the revertant T24 with 510 RAPD decamer primers identified the co-segregating markers OPB07₆₄₀ and OPB18₁₀₀₀ to be linked to a sterile allele of the restoring locus in the revertant T24, at a distance of 5.3 cM. RAPD analysis of a mapping population of Tesanai2/CB with primer OPB07 revealed linkage of OPB07₆₄₀ with RG374 (10.8 cM) and RG394 (8.8 cM) on chromosome 1. Thus the restorer gene, designated Rf ₅, was tentatively localized between RG374 and RG394 on chromosome 1 and appears to be independent of other mapped restorer genes in rice. Received: 11 November 1997 / Accepted: 17 December 1997     

红莲型杂交稻(红莲2号)及其骨干亲本的RAPD分析与鉴定

利用RAPD技术,从248个随机寡核苷酸引物（10－mer）中筛出18个引物对红莲型杂交稻组合红莲2号及其亲本（T－07A、T－07B、YD6－05）,另6个红莲型胞质不育系的骨干恢复和汕优63及其亲本共14份水稻材料进行分析。共检测到173个多态性标记。聚类分析结果表明：不育系与保持系间因核背景相似,遗传差异很小;杂种（F1）的基因型更倾向于恢复系;恢复系与保持系间遗传距离的相对较大,但各恢复系之间的遗传距离较小。利用这些标记能有效地地区交组合中不育系,保持系、恢复系和杂种（F1）。     

陆地棉主要产量相关性状的SSR标记关联分析

高产优质育种是我国棉花育种的主要目标。寻找与目标性状关联的分子标记,可克服常规育种的盲目性,提高分子标记辅助选择育种的准确性。本研究对118份陆地棉种质资源的衣分、单铃重、单株铃数及子指等4个产量相关性状进行2年2点的表型鉴定,并利用覆盖全基因组的、有多态性的214对SSR标记进行标记与性状的关联分析。结果表明:118份材料的4个产量相关性状表型变异丰富,平均变异系数的变幅在6.1%~19.1%之间,且在各环境中表现较为稳定;基因型分析表明,214对标记共检测到460个等位变异,基因多样性指数平均为0.5151,PIC值平均为0.4587,表明该批标记具有较多的等位变异数和较高的基因多样性;群体结构分析表明该批材料可分为4个亚群,且各类群中材料与地理来源无对应关系;关联分析结果显示,在显著条件下(-log10P1.3,P0.05),共有39个标记位点能够在2个及2个以上的环境中同时检测到,其中有4个标记位点同时与2个以上性状相关联,进一步比较发现,有7个位点与前人研究结果一致,其余32个位点为新发现的位点。研究结果可为陆地棉产量性状遗传改良的分子标记辅助选择提供理论依据。     

Identification of mitochondrial DNA sequence variation and development of single nucleotide polymorphic markers for CMS-D8 in cotton

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), which is a maternally inherited trait and controlled by novel chimeric genes in the mitochondrial genome, plays a pivotal role in the production of hybrid seed. In cotton, no PCR-based marker has been developed to discriminate CMS-D8 (from Gossypium trilobum) from its normal Upland cotton (AD1, Gossypium hirsutum) cytoplasm. The objective of the current study was to develop PCR-based single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) markers from mitochondrial genes for the CMS-D8 cytoplasm. DNA sequence variation in mitochondrial genes involved in the oxidative phosphorylation chain including ATP synthase subunit 1, 4, 6, 8 and 9, and cytochrome c oxidase 1, 2 and 3 subunits were identified by comparing CMS-D8, its isogenic maintainer and restorer lines on the same nuclear genetic background. An allelic specific PCR (AS-PCR) was utilized for SNP typing by incorporating artificial mismatched nucleotides into the third or fourth base from the 3′ terminus in both the specific and nonspecific primers. The result indicated that the method modifying allele-specific primers was successful in obtaining eight SNP markers out of eight SNPs using eight primer pairs to discriminate two alleles between AD1 and CMS-D8 cytoplasms. Two of the SNPs for atp1 and cox1 could also be used in combination to discriminate between CMS-D8 and CMS-D2 cytoplasms. Additionally, a PCR-based marker from a nine nucleotide insertion–deletion (InDel) sequence (AATTGTTTT) at the 59–67 bp positions from the start codon of atp6, which is present in the CMS and restorer lines with the D8 cytoplasm but absent in the maintainer line with the AD1 cytoplasm, was also developed. A SNP marker for two nucleotide substitutions (AA in AD1 cytoplasm to CT in CMS-D8 cytoplasm) in the intron (1,506 bp) of cox2 gene was also developed. These PCR-based SNP markers should be useful in discriminating CMS-D8 and AD1 cytoplasms, or those with CMS-D2 cytoplasm as a rapid, simple, inexpensive, and reliable genotyping tool to assist hybrid cotton breeding.     

Evaluation of SSR Markers for the Assessment of Genetic Diversity and Fingerprinting of Gossypium hirsutum Accessions

A total 177 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were screened using a set of 47 Upland cotton genotypes comprising 14 commercial varieties, 14 germplasm accessions and 19 advanced breeding lines to identify informative markers for genetic diversity assessment and fingerprinting in G. hirsutum. Only 21% (381177) of SSR markers tested showed polymorphism with a mean of 2.18 alleles per locus and with average polymorphism information content (PIC) of 0.32. The SSR markers revealed a Jaccard’ similarity coefficient ranging between 0.43 and 0.89, with an average of 0.67 among accessions. Cluster analysis using unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) and principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that majority of the genotypes were very closely related. All the 47 genotypes showed heterorygosity for at least one of the SSR loci. We discovered 19 rare and 6 unique alleles among the tested genotypes of cotton. Fingerprint based on all the 38 loci revealed a probability of identical match by chance of 3.98x10. A set of ten SSR markers was identified which could distinguish all the 47 genotypes with a moderate probability of identical match by chance (X?_D ⁿ = 0.01).     

Genetic diversity and population structure in the US Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Key message

Genetic diversity and population structure in the US Upland cotton was established and core sets of allelic richness were identified for developing association mapping populations in cotton.

Abstract

Elite plant breeding programs could likely benefit from the unexploited standing genetic variation of obsolete cultivars without the yield drag typically associated with wild accessions. A set of 381 accessions comprising 378 Upland (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and 3 G. barbadense L. accessions of the United States cotton belt were genotyped using 120 genome-wide SSR markers to establish the genetic diversity and population structure in tetraploid cotton. These accessions represent more than 100 years of Upland cotton breeding in the United States. Genetic diversity analysis identified a total of 546 alleles across 141 marker loci. Twenty-two percent of the alleles in Upland accessions were unique, specific to a single accession. Population structure analysis revealed extensive admixture and identified five subgroups corresponding to Southeastern, Midsouth, Southwest, and Western zones of cotton growing areas in the United States, with the three accessions of G. barbadense forming a separate cluster. Phylogenetic analysis supported the subgroups identified by STRUCTURE. Average genetic distance between G. hirsutum accessions was 0.195 indicating low levels of genetic diversity in Upland cotton germplasm pool. The results from both population structure and phylogenetic analysis were in agreement with pedigree information, although there were a few exceptions. Further, core sets of different sizes representing different levels of allelic richness in Upland cotton were identified. Establishment of genetic diversity, population structure, and identification of core sets from this study could be useful for genetic and genomic analysis and systematic utilization of the standing genetic variation in Upland cotton.     

Identification of Cotton Hybrid through the Combination of PCR Based RAPD, ISSR and Microsatellite Markers

Hybrid cotton H ‘6’ and its parents G.Cot.10 (male) and G.Cot.100 (female) were studied for identification with three PCR based molecular markers, RAPD, ISSR and microsatellite. Twenty RAPD primers, nineteen ISSR primers and twenty-five JESPR cotton microsatellite loci were used. RAPD primer OPA 11 was found to be useful in differentiating parents and hybrid. Two ISSR primers, IS4 and IS7 showed polymorphism in the parents. IS4 identified a female-specific amplicon of about 500bp and IS7 identified two female-specific amplicons of about 500 and 1200bp in the hybrid H ‘6’. Microsatellite loci JESPR-2 and JESPR-17 were found to be heteroallelic for parents. JESPR-2 identified one male-specific repeat of about 850bp, while JESPR-17 detected two male-specific repeats of about 800bp and 700bp in the hybrid H ‘6’. Results indicated that using all three markers - RAPD, ISSR and SSR - in combination is faster and more reliable than using the three in isolation, for the identification of cotton hybrid.     

Genetic Diversity Analysis of Elite Pearl Millet Inbred Lines using RAPD and SSR Markers

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L) R Br] is one of the widely grown cereal crops in the arid and semi-arid regions of Africa and India. We undertook a study to ascertain the genetic diversity in 21 elite inbreds (parental lines of 13 pearl millet hybrids in India) using 20 Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and 21 Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers. Based on Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) and unique banding profiles, 6 RAPD primers OPD12, OPA16, OPB6, OPA19, OPB5 and OPB1, and 3 SSR markers Xpsmp2208, Xpsmp2223 and Xpsmp2220, were found to be highly discriminative. The PIC values ranged from 0.28 to 0.48 for the RAPD and from 0.24 to 0.60 for the SSR markers. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis of the combined dataset of RAPD and SSR markers indicated moderate genetic divergence among the elite pearl millet germplasm, besides unraveling the genetic relationships among the male sterile lines and the restorers.     

Conversion of a rice CMS maintainer into a photo- or thermo-sensitive genetic male sterile line

A maintainer line of 3-line hybrid rice commonly presents a certain genetic distance to a 2-line restorer line, but in many cases, 2-line restorer lines present defects upon recovery of the object cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) line of the maintainer line, which impedes the utilization of their heterosis. Here, we report a strategy and an example of converting a maintainer into a photoperiod/temperature-sensitive genic male sterile (P/TGMS) line with an almost identical genetic background, thus maximizing the heterosis. Firstly, through treatment of maintainer line T98B with ⁶⁰C_O-γ irradiation, we identified the TGMS line T98S, which is sterile at higher temperatures and fertile at lower temperatures. Secondly, the T98S line was proven to be identical to T98B with regard to genetic background via an examination of 48 parental polymorphous SSR markers and exhibited excellent blossom traits similar to those of T98B, with an extensive forenoon flowering rate of 75.92% and a high exertion rate of 64.59%. Thirdly, in a combination test, three out of six hybrids from T98S crossed with 2-line restorer lines showed a yield increase of 6.70–15.69% for 2 consecutive years. These results demonstrated that the strategy can generate a new P/TGMS line with strong general combining ability (converted from a maintainer line), thus helping to increase the genetic diversity of male sterile heterotic groups.     

Breeding for ”low-gossypol seed and high-gossypol plants” in upland cotton. Analysis of tri-species hybrids and backcross progenies using AFLPs and mapped RFLPs

This work aims at breeding upland cotton [Gossypium hirsutum L., 2(AD)₁ genome] with a reduced level of gossypol in the seeds for optimal food and feed uses, and a high gossypol level in the remaining organs for resistance to pests. Two tri-species Gossypium hybrids, (G. thurberi–G. sturtianum–G. hirsutum and G. hirsutum–G. raimondii–G. sturtianum) including G. sturtianum (2C₁) as a donor, G. thurberi (2D₁) and G. raimondii (2D₅) as a bridge species, were created. Recurrent selection initiated with these tri-species hybrids produced backcross (BC) progenies expressing the ”low-gossypol seed and high-gossypol plant” trait at different levels. We used AFLP markers to assess the genetic similarity among the germplasm and RFLP probes to tag the introgression of specific chomosome segments from the parental species. Five pairs of AFLP primers generated 477 fragments, among which 417 (87.4%) were polymorphic. The genetic similarity between the upland cotton and the wild species ranged from 29.5 to 43.2%, while similarity reached 80% between upland cotton and BC3 plants. Introgression of species-specific AFLPs was evident from all the parental species and confirmed the hybrid origin of the analyzed progenies. Southern-blot analysis based on 49 RFLP probes allowed us to trace the introgression of parental DNA segments in the tri-species hybrids and in three generations of backcross. Introgression was evident from 11, 8 and 7 linkage groups of G. sturtianum, G. raimondii and G. thurberi respectively. The types of introgression revealed by RFLP probes are discussed, and breeding schemes to enhance recombination are proposed. The ability to trace DNA segments of known chromosomal locations from the donor G. sturtianum through segregating generations is a starting point to map the ”low-gossypol seed and high-gossypol plant” traits. Received: 5 January 1999 / Accepted: 17 June 1999     

Genetic diversity analysis of Cynodon dactylon (bermudagrass) accessions and cultivars from different countries based on ISSR and SSR markers

ISSR and SSR markers were used to evaluate genetic diversity among 33 Cynodon dactylon accessions and 22 cultivars from four different countries in order to provide information on how to improve the utilization of bermudagrass germplasms. Eighty eight bands were amplified by nine SSR primer combinations and 236 bands were observed from 23 ISSR primers. The results showed that 97.7% of the SSR primers and 86.9% of the ISSR primers were polymorphic. The genetic similarity coefficients (GSC), gene diversity (He) and Shannon index (I) were 0.58–0.97, 0.27 and 0.41, respectively, for ISSR and 0.52–0.97, 0.29, and 0.43 for SSR. The UPGMA analysis clustered the 55 accessions (cultivars) into three groups. The cluster results produced by the ISSR data were close to the SSR data results. Analysis based on the combined ISSR and SSR data was more closely related to the geographical distribution of the tested germplasm.     

Identification of RAPD markers linked to a fertility restorer gene for theOgura radish cytoplasmic male sterility of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)

Bulked segregant analysis was employed to identify random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers linked to the restorer gene (Rfo) used in theOgura radish cytoplasmic male sterility of rapeseed. A total of 138 arbitrary 10-mer oligonucleotide primers were screened on the DNA of three pairs of bulks, each bulk corresponding to homozygous restored and male sterile plants of three segregating populations. Six primers produced repeatable polymorphisms between paired bulks. DNA from individual plants of each bulk was then used as a template for amplification with these six primers. DNA polymorphisms generated by four of these primers were found to be completely linked to the restorer gene with the polymorphic DNA fragments being associated either with the fertility restorer allele or with the sterility maintainer allele. Pairwise cross-hybridization demonstrated that the four polymorphic DNA fragments did not share any homology. Southern hybridization of labelled RAPD fragments on digested genomic DNA from the same three pairs of bulks revealed fragments specific to either the male sterile bulks or to the restored bulks and a few fragments common to all bulks, indicating that the amplified sequences are low copy. The four RAPD fragments that were completely linked to the restorer locus have been cloned and sequenced to develop sequence characterized amplified regions (SCARs). This will facilitate the construction of restorer lines used in breeding programs and is the first step towards map-based cloning of the fertility restorer allele.     

Molecular mapping of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rf1</Emphasis> gene restoring pollen fertility in PET1-based F<Subscript>1</Subscript> hybrids in sunflower (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus annuus</Emphasis> L.)

Up to now a single cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) source, PET1, is used worldwide for hybrid breeding in sunflower. Introgression of the restorer gene Rf1, responsible for fertility restoration, into new breeding material requires tightly linked markers to perform an efficient marker-assisted selection. A survey of 520 decamer primers by bulked segregant analyses identified five RAPD markers linked to the restorer gene Rf1. In a F(2) population of 183 individuals one of the RAPD markers, OPK13_454, mapped 0.8 cM from Rf1, followed by OPY10_740 with 2 cM. Bulked segregant analyses using 48 AFLP primer combinations identified 17 polymorphisms, which could be mapped in the same linkage group as Rf1. E33M61_136, and E41M48_113 were mapped 0.3 cM and 1.6 cM from the gene, respectively. Conversion of E41M48_113 into a sequence-specific marker resulted in a monomorphic pattern. However, two of the RAPD markers, OPK13_454 and OPY10_740, were successfully converted into SCAR markers, HRG01 and HRG02, which are now available for marker-assisted selection. To investigate the utility of these SCAR markers in other cross-combinations they were tested in a set of 20 lines. Comparison of the patterns of 11 restorer and nine maintainer lines of PET1 demonstrated that the markers OPK13_454/HRG01 and HRG02 were absent in all maintainer lines but present in all restorer lines, apart from the high oleic line RHA348 and the dwarf line Gio55. In addition, restorer lines developed from the interspecific hybrids Helianthus annuus x Helianthus mollis and H. annuus x Helianthus rigidus gave the same characteristic amplification products.     

Identification and relationships of cultivated accessions fromLolium-Festuca complex based on RAPD fingerprinting

Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique with 15 arbitrary primers was used to identify and reveal relationships of the accessions comprising 4 species ofLolium-Festuca complex. Altogether 252 RAPD markers were considered in statistical treatment, 60 of which could be identified as potentially taxon-specific. All analyzed taxa were fully distinguishable using RAPD markers.Lolium-Festuca relationships based on RAPD data were evaluated using cluster analysis (UPGMA) and principle coordinate analysis (PCO). The results of UPGMA as well as PCO performed on data pooled from all RAPD profiles support separation of the two generaLolium andFestuca.     

Genetic diversity in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) landraces from Zimbabwe revealed by RAPD and SSR markers

Low polymorphism in cultivated watermelon has been reported in previous studies, based mainly on US Plant Introductions and watermelon cultivars, most of which were linked to breeding programmes associated with disease resistance. Since germplasm sampled in a putative centre of origin in southern Africa may harbour considerably higher variability, DNA marker-based diversity was estimated among 81 seedlings from eight accessions of watermelon collected in Zimbabwe; five accessions of cow-melons (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides) and three of sweet watermelons (C. lanatus var. lanatus). Two molecular marker methods were used, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and simple sequence repeats (SSR) also known as microsatellite DNA. Ten RAPD primers produced 138 markers of which 122 were polymorphic. Nine SSR primer pairs detected a total of 43 alleles with an average of 4.8 alleles per locus. The polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.47 to 0.77 for the RAPD primers and from 0.39 to 0.97 for the SSR loci. Similarity matrices obtained with SSR and RAPD, respectively, were highly correlated but only RAPD was able to provide each sample with an individual-specific DNA profile. Dendrograms and multidimensional scaling (MDS) produced two major clusters; one with the five cow-melon accessions and the other with the three sweet watermelon accessions. One of the most variable cow-melon accessions took an intermediate position in the MDS analysis, indicating the occurrence of gene flow between the two subspecies. Analysis of molecular variation (AMOVA) attributed most of the variability to within-accessions, and contrary to previous reports, sweet watermelon accessions apparently contain diversity of the same magnitude as the cow-melons.     

Evaluation of genetic diversity of parental lines for development of heterotic groups in hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Knowledge of genetic diversity and potential heterotic relationships among parental lines is of significant importance in hybrid rice breeding programs. In the present study, in order to understand the genetic diversity among 96 parental lines, they were characterized for their diversity with respect to their morphological traits (n?=?12) and molecular markers using a set of 50 SSR markers. Morphological diversity was estimated using Mahalanobis D² statistics in terms of generalized group distance. Based on morphological diversity analysis, the 96 lines were grouped into 5 major and 13 monogenotypic clusters. In molecular marker analysis, the parental lines were consistently clustered into B (Maintainer group) and R (Restorer group) groups based on distance and model based approaches. Strong correspondence was observed between the pedigree of parental lines with molecular genotyping based grouping than morphological trait based grouping. From the results of the present investigation, it is evident that the available diversity among the two groups i.e., maintainer group (B) and restorer group (R) is sufficient for developing heterotic hybrids, but within the maintainer and restorer groups, the diversity is limited, the diversity among restorers was moderate, while it was low among the maintainers and hence efforts are needed for broadening their genetic base of parental lines for development and adoption of high-yielding hybrids.