ALBERT

Description:    Dill ( Anethum graveolens L.) leaf, seed and their essential oil are rich source of antioxidants. The plant is native in Southwest Asia and is cultivated in Europe, India and the United States. This study evaluated the genetic diversity structure of 135 accessions of A. graveolens from different continents, based on random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. The selected 10 RAPD primers generated a total of 142 highly reproducible bands, among which 89 were polymorphic. Percentage of polymorphism varied from 41.17 % (OPB20) to 92.85 % (OPB15) with an average of 77.74 %. A relatively high genetic diversity was detected among all the accessions with the Nei’s genetic diversity ( H ) values ranged from 0.346 (OPB07) to 0.444 (OPB18) with a mean of 0.401. When estimated for Shannon’s information index ( I ), it has ranged from 0.530 (OPB12) to 0.652 (OPB18), the mean was observed as 0.581. The respective values of H and I were found to be the highest value for primer OPB18. Cluster analysis of RAPD data using UPGMA algorithm based on Nei’s genetic similarity matrix placed the 135 accessions into two main clusters. Although a number of groups can be identified, the clusters show little to no association with the geographic origin of the material. The implication of the results of this study in developing a strategy for the conservation and breeding of dill germplasm are discussed. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s10722-012-9886-7 Authors Sundan Suresh, National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, 441-853 Republic of Korea Jong-Wook Chung, National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, 441-853 Republic of Korea Jung-Sook Sung, National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, 441-853 Republic of Korea Gyu-Taek Cho, National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, 441-853 Republic of Korea Jong-Hyun Park, National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, 441-853 Republic of Korea Mun Sup Yoon, National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, 441-853 Republic of Korea Chung-Kon Kim, National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, 441-853 Republic of Korea Hyung-Jin Baek, National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, 441-853 Republic of Korea Journal Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Online ISSN 1573-5109 Print ISSN 0925-9864