Multi-locus DNA fingerprinting and genetic diversity in jute (Corchorus spp.) based on sequence-related amplified polymorphism

Sequence-Related Amplified Polymorphism (SRAP) markers were used for genetic diversity assessment and cultivar identification among 31 cultivars of jute belonging to two cultivated species Corchours olitorius L. and C. capsularis L. Forty-three primer-pairs produced a total of 394 bands with an average of 9 bands per primer pair and 89% bands were polymorphic across the genotypes of two species. Average genetic diversity in the cultivars of C. olitorius and C. capsularis was 7.2% (range 2.8–12.3%) and 7.6% (range 2.2–13.1%), respectively. Jute cultivars JRC 698, JRC 7447, TJ 40, S19 and JRO 3690 were more diverse compared to rest of the cultivars. UPGMA cluster analysis grouped all cultivars into two clusters which were representative of C. olitorius and C. capsularis species. All the cultivars could be unequivocally differentiated from one another based on the pooled profile of 43 primer-pairs, however, 24 of 31 cultivars could be identified uniquely. The probability of chance identity of any two cultivars based on SRAP markers was very low and was 6.95 × 10−07 and 2.23 × 10−07 for cultivars of C. capsularis and C. olitorius, respectively. Primer-pairs EM1-ME5, EM4-ME1, EM8-ME1 and EM10-ME1 were found to be useful for genetic diversity and cultivar identification. Our results show that SRAP markers could be effectively used for genetic diversity analyses in jute. For poor genetic diversity and resulting narrow genetic base, these markers will prove to be highly useful for identifying elite germplasm in a jute breeding program.