SSR Marker-based DNA Finger Printing of Newly Released Groundnut Variety VRI 11

Abstract

Molecular markers are powerful tools that help differentiate crop varieties at the DNA level and have been widely used for fingerprinting in numerous crop plants. The newly released Spanish bunch groundnut variety VRI 11 is derived from a cross between CO 7 and VG 13127 and matures in 105–110 days. Its notable features include a high dry-pod yield (3213 kg/ha) and moderate resistance to early leaf spot, rust, Alternaria blight, stem rot, and dry root rot. Morphological traits, viz., pod length, pod beak, pod reticulation, and pod constriction, can distinguish VRI 11 from the ruling varieties VRI 9, GG 7, GJG 32, K 1812, and BSR 2. However, these varieties cannot all be differentiated using a single DUS character. In the present study, 36 SSR primers were used to differentiate VRI 11 from other popular varieties. Of these, four SSR markers, viz., PM 3, IPAHM 103, Seq 17F06, and AH 426, differentiated the varieties. PM 3 showed polymorphism between VRI 11 and all other varieties, viz., VRI 9, GG 7, GJG 32, K 1812, and BSR 2. IPAHM 103 showed polymorphism between VRI 11 and other varieties, viz., GG 7, GJG 32, K 1812, and BSR 2. Seq 17F06 showed polymorphism between VRI 11 and four other varieties, namely VRI 9, GG 7, K 1812, and BSR 2, but not GJG 32. AH 426 showed polymorphism between VRI 11 and all other varieties, viz., VRI 9, GG 7, GJG 32, K 1812, and BSR 2. Hence, the SSR primers, viz., PM 3, IPAHM 103, Seq 17F06, and AH 426, may be used to differentiate these groundnut varieties at the molecular level during seed certification.