AFLP and RAPD based genetic diversity assessment of industrially important reed bamboo (Ochlandra travancorica Benth)

A high level of genetic diversity was recorded in molecular analysis of random collections of industrially important reed bamboos (O. travancorica) from Kerala region of India. Fifty primers (8 AFLP & 42 RAPD) detected 914 polymorphic loci. Cluster and Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCA) based on combined AFLP & RAPD data grouped all the random accessions into three different populations. Further, AMOVA revealed a moderate to high level of genetic variation. Most of the variation occurred within population (54 %) than among population (46 %). Highly significant and high PhiPT estimate (Fst value; 0.456) indicated that these populations are not panmictic and are significantly isolated. Relatively large number of polymorphism obtained could be useful in finding the elite germplasm resources for industrial use.