Analysis of Genetic Diversity in Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum) as Detected by RAPD and ISSR Markers

Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers were used to detect the DNA polymorphism among thirty Napier grass collections of wide geographical distribution. A total of 20 RAPD and 10 ISSR primers were used in this study. RAPD analysis produced 222 fragments of which, 195 were polymorphic with an average of 9.75 polymorphic fragments per primer. The ten ISSR primers produced a total of 98 fragments out of which 88 were polymorphic accounting for 89.8%. The Mantel test between two similarity matrices of the markers revealed a low correlation (r = 0.33) indicating low correspondence between polymorphism brought out by the two marker systems. The UPGMA clustering of genotypes eventhough was not similar when RAPD and ISSR derived dendrograms were compared, but showed a greater correspondence with geographical identity in both the marker systems employed. This correspondence was also evident when data from both the RAPD and ISSR markers were combined. The implications on collection and breeding of this important forage grass had been discussed.