Molecular Diversity Analysis in Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Using RAPD Markers

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L) is considered as major textile fiber around the world. This research aimed to analyze the molecular diversity among 9 cotton genotypes collected from Cotton Development Board, Bangladesh using the 7 Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Some total of 18 DNA bands were obtained and among them, 13 were polymorphic bands. The range of DNA amplification varied from 180 to 800 bp. The percentage of polymorphism was about 50.71. Genetic diversity ranged from 0.22 to 0.44 with an average value of 0.34. Nei’s genetic distance ranging from 0.1667 to 0.6667 and most importantly PIC value ranged from 0.18 to 0.35 with an average value of 0.27. The PIC value indicated that most of the studied cotton genotypes were moderately diversified and homogenous as well as no heterozygosity found. A dendrogram indicating the relative genetic similarity of the Bangladeshi cotton genotypes was constructed which followed in two major clusters (A and B) among the studied material. The Cotton Development Board (CDB), Bangladesh committed to working on cotton improvement and this investigation will be helpful for the selection of diversified genotypes in varietal improvement in cotton. The output of this research will be a baseline for future molecular research work on cotton genotypes in Bangladesh.