Molecular Characterization of Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre Genotypes in Respect to Seed Oil Using Microsatellite Markers

Twenty-four genotypes selected from different agroclimatic zones of Jharkhand (India) were assessed for seed oil content that varied from 21.86% to 41.86% with 14 genotypes recording above average 32.11 % for the trait which indicates towards efficiency of selection processes. Several genotypes in ‘Central and Western Plateau’ agroclimatic zone of Jharkhand displayed a good potential for high oil content. The employed 23 polymorphic microsatellite loci exhibited three to twenty one alleles per locus with an average of 12 while total 270 alleles were detected. Two primer set PpSSR21 and PpSSR27 showed 100% polymorphism among the genotypes. The high oil yielding plant K19 showed different band pattern with the locus PpSSR04. From the Nei’s analysis it was found that maximum diversity exists between the full sib genotypes K10 and K2. Thus, the genotypes (K2 and K10) which are more diverse could be used further in improvement programme. Overall, the genotypes included in the study showed a correlation with their geographical origins such that genotypes from the same region tend to have higher genetic similarity as compared to those from different regions. However, in UPGMA based Nei’s analysis, some genotypes were found not to be grouped based on geographical origins possibly due to the exchange of germplasm over time between farmers across the regions. Both molecular and oil content (biochemical) markers appeared useful in analyzing the extent of genetic diversity in P. pinnata. The result of these analyses will help to better understand the genetic diversity and relationship among populations constituting a set of useful background information that can be used as a basis for future breeding strategy and improvement of the species.