Coco Germplasm Database

Biotechnology

DNA FINGERPRINTING OF COCOA ACCESSIONS USING PCR BASED MARKERS

A simple inexpensive procedure for DNA extraction from green recently mature leaves has been standardized, which was successfully used for genomic DNA extraction from cocoa accessions, hybrids and the related genus, Cola nitida.
Different components of PCR such as template DNA, dNTPs, Mg++, primer and Taq polymerase in the reaction mixture and stringent conditions for annealing primer and template have been optimized for RAPD and DAF to obtain reproducible amplification products.
DNA fingerprint have been developed for 76 cocoa accessions using RAPD markers.
Accession specific markers have been identified for different accessions using RAPD markers.
APD bands polymorphisms were lowest in Nigerian accessions and highest in KAU collections.
Genetic relationships among 76 introductions of cocoa including collections from different corners of the world were evaluated using RAPD markers. The UPGMA algorithm based on Jaccard's coefficient grouped 76 accessions into 6 groups. Based on the genetic distance four highly divergent accessions were identified, which could be useful to cocoa breeders in India to utilize these accessions for cocoa improvement.
Genetic diversity estimated by principal coordinate analysis indicated that accessions BE 10, EQX 78, I-56 and SCA 12 represented more divergent accessions.