RAPD markers in flesh colour determination of papayas (Carica papaya L).

Abstract

RAPD markers were used to determine the flesh colour of the gynodioecious varieties Sunrise Solo and Kapoho Solo and dioecious selection 9-1 D. Of the 31 primers screened, 9 primers gave multiple PCR amplification products were chosen for the study. A total of 88 fragments were amplified and 41 showed polymorphism with an average of 4.6 fragments per primer. The extent of polymorphism (47.74%) indicated the existence of a narrow genetic variation among the test types. The eight types of the three varieties were scored for the presence or absence of RAPD fragments. Cluster analysis was done using simple, co-efficient of similarity matrix and the dendrogram was constructed. The arbitrary primer OPC-05 discriminated between the red and yellow types of dioecious papaya, similarly primer OPK-13 distinguished the indigenous dioecious from exotic gynodioecious forms. The results obtained are in conformity with the hypothesis that the male parent governs the flesh colour in papayas.