Genetic Diversity of Peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) Cultivars as Revealed by RAPD Markers

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the genetic diversity of the peanut accessions using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) molecular marker and to evaluate RAPD markers to be used in peanut as genetic markers and improve such techniques as suitable strategies for peanut germplasm characterization. Twenty peanut accessions were included in this study and were subjected to RAPD molecular markers analysis. Twenty-seven RAPD primers produced 210 amplification products of which 80 (36.4%) were polymorphic. In conclusion, this study reported a successful fingerprinting of peanut accessions using RAPD markers and demonstrated the usefulness of these markers in estimating the extent of genetic variation in peanut germplasm.