Abstract:
DNA fingerprinting helps to document plant genetic resources of a particular species through banding
patterns and plays an important role in genetic conservation and breeding program. Four varieties of
sesame had been fingerprinted by three decamers of randomely amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)
markers. A total of 21 PCR amplification products were found by using 3 decamer primers (OPA-09,
OPC-OS and OPL-07) among which 14 bands were polymorphic. The size of the amplification products
ranged from 347bp to 1224bp for OPA-09, 317hp to IS92bp for OPC-OS and 423bp to 1024bp for OPL-
07 primer. Within the individuals of a single variety no genetic variation was observed. UPGMA
dendogram based on Nei's (1972) genetic distance indicated segregation of 4 varieties of sesame into two
main clusters: T 6 with BARI Til-2 grouped in cluster I and BARI Til-3 with BINA Til I in cluster 2.
Molecular characterization of the varieties will provide support for broadening the genetic basis of
selective breeding programs.
