Journal of Environmental Biology

Molecular and morphological diversity in locally grown

non-commercial (heirloom) mango varieties of North India

Anju Bajpai¹*, M. Muthukumar¹, Israr Ahmad¹, K.V. Ravishankar², V.A. Parthasarthy³, Bhuwon Sthapit⁴,

Ramanatha Rao⁵, J.P.Verma¹ and S. Rajan¹

¹Division of Crop Improvement and Biotechnology, Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow-226 101, India

²Division of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessarghatta Lake Post, Bengaluru-560 089, India

³Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessarghatta Lake Post, Bengaluru-560 089, India

^{4, 5}Bioversity International,? NASC Complex, Pusa Campus, New Delhi-110 012, India

*Corresponding Author E-mail: anju.bajpai@gmail.com

Publication Data

Paper received:

06 February 2015

Revised received:

17 August 2015

Re-revised received:

29 September 2015

Accepted:

03 November 2015

Abstract

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) has been cultivated and conserved in different agro-ecologies including Malihabad region in northern part of India, that is well known for housing diverse types (heirloom and commercial varieties). In the present study, 37 mango types comprising of 27 heirloom varieties from Malihabad region and 10 commercial varieties grown in North and Eastern India were assessed for morphological attributes and molecular diversity. The employed SSR markers amplified 2-13 alleles individually, cumulatively amplifying 124 alleles. These were studied for allelic diversity and genetic dissimilarity ranged from 0.035 to 0.892 arranging the varieties in three major clusters. The results revealed that majority of unique heirloom mangoes from Malihabad were different from the eastern part of the country. It is interesting to note Dashehari, a commercial variety from Malihabad was not aligned with heirloom varieties. Commercial varieties like Gulabkhas and Langra were placed in a separate group including Bombay Green, Himsagar, Dashehari, etc., indicating their dissimilarity with heirloom varieties at molecular level and thus, indicating importance for later from conservation point of view. Furthermore, the hierarchical clustering of varieties based on fruit morphology, assembled these into four groups largely influenced by fruit size. The maximum agreement subtree indicated seemingly good fit as thirteen varieties were arrayed in common grouping pattern. Appreciable dissimilarity among the heirloom varieties demonstrated by molecular analysis, underlines the importance for their on-farm conservation. ????  

 Key words

Allele richness, Heirloom varieties, Mango varieties, On farm conservation, SSR markers

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