STMS marker assay based diversity in selected hybrid clones of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.)

Molecular genetic diversity among 35 selected clones of sugarcane assayed using 30 sugarcane specific sequence tagged microsatellite site (STMS) primers. Present investigation revealed that the markers analyzed were highly informative by virtue of their PIC (polymorphic information content) values. Jaccard's similarity coefficient value estimated was ranged from 0.37 to 0.89 with an average of 0.63 indicating the existence of appreciable genetic diversity among the clones studied which opened the avenue for further improvement of the clones through hybridization. UPGMA clusters analysis detected six clusters of which, Cluster III was largest with 26 genotypes. There was poor correspondence between pedigree and molecular markers as the two genotypes evolved from crosses involving different parentages were also clustered together in addition to clustering together of clones with at least one common parent and the clones evolved from the same cross showed more diversity suggesting that involvement of genotypes derived from same parental combination need not always lead to close breeding.