Assessing genetic relationships among mango (Mangifera indica L.) accessions of Andaman Islands using inter simple sequence repeat markers

Abstract

Genetic diversity among four wild mango species and 29 genotypes/cultivars of polyembryonic and monoembryonic mangoes of the Andaman Islands were analysed using inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. A total of 335 ISSR markers were scored, of which 213 markers were polymorphic. These markers were used to estimate the genetic similarity among accessions usinga Dice similarity coefficient. Similarity values ranged between 2 70% with an average of 34%. A similarity matrix was used to construct a dendrogram and principle coordinator plot to show genetic relationships among accessions. The sampled genotypes/accessions were divided into three prominent groups of 4, 16 and 13, differentiating the polyembryonic genotypes from monoembryonic genotypes and wild mango species. The study provides further information on the evolution and diversity of the mango accessions of the island ecosystem. The analysis also separates the differentially floweringpolyembryonic genotypes from the early flowering monoembryonic types for their exploitation in genetic improvement programmes or selection in the regions of tropical island ecosystems where the attribute of early flowering can be effectively utilised.