Assessment of genetic diversity and DNA profiling of linseed (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Linum usitatissimum</Emphasis> subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">usitatissimum</Emphasis> L.) germplasm using SSR markers

Access to genetic diversity is essential for any progress in adapting linseed (Linum usitatissimum subsp. usitatissimum L.) cultivation to changing environmental conditions or to the changing market needs. An attempt has been made in the present study to assess genetic diversity in 96 genotypes of linseed including varieties, landraces and exotic material. A total of 38 SSR primers amplified 153 alleles with 4.0 alleles per marker locus. The number of alleles ranged from 2 to 15 and the observed polymorphism ranged from 50 to 100%. Average genetic dissimilarity ranged from 2 to 50%. In order to analyze the efficiency for unambiguous identification of linseed germplasm, various statistical measures, viz., number of genotyping patterns, polymorphism information content, resolving power, discrimination power, probability of identity and probability of random identity, identified a set comprising of primers LU7, LU27, LU25, LU20 and LU31 (or LU637) for DNA fingerprinting of linseed germplasm. UPGMA cluster analysis showed that all genotypes could be grouped into four main clusters. Cluster 2 was the largest consisting of mainly landraces, whereas, Cluster 4 was the smallest. Cluster 1 consisted of mainly the released cultivars. Cluster 3 and Cluster 4 were smaller clusters and consisted of exotic genotypes. Principal co-ordinate analysis further substantiated the UPGMA clustering patterns of the observed genetic relationship. To explain 70–80% variability, 17–23 PCOs were needed, whereas 70 components were needed to explain the whole variability in the linseed material under study. Analysis of molecular variance indicated that most of the genetic variation is owing to the individuals within single population, whereas grouping of linseed material into varieties, landraces and exotics accounted for nearly 10% of the total genetic variation. The utility of SSR markers in diversity assessment and cultivar identification is discussed.