Rapd Analysis of the Seven Cultivated Varieties of Capsicum annuum L.

Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) is a novel procedure for the identification of polymorphism in plants based on PCR. It does not require prior knowledge of a DNA sequence. RAPD markers are based on the amplification of unknown DNA sequences using single, short, random oligonucleotide primers. Many of the technical limitations of RFLPs have been overcome by RAPD. In the present study seven varieties of C. annuum L. were analysed for RAPD polymorphism using 5 random primers. The study shows that the varieties show remarkable genetic variation. RAPD primers showed different DNA fingerprints for different varieties of Capsicum L. studied. Variation was observed at varietal level in C. annuum L. with respect to the morphological traits, phytoconstituents estimated ( capsaicin, sugar and vitamin C) and karyotype analysis also. Thus all the seven can be distinguished at varietal level. Therefore they can be used as a suitable source material for future breeding, genetic and other experiments. The use of other molecular markers like SSRs, AFLP, etc. would provide more precise estimates of genetic variability in the varieties.