DNA profiling of Capsicum landraces of Manipur

Seven chilli landraces of Manipur belonging to three cultivated species of Capsicum (Capsicum annuum, Capsicum frutescens, and Capsicum chinense) form economically important food crops of the region. The genotypes were characterized using ten random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. The cluster analysis based on Jaccard's similarity coefficient calculated by UPGMA method differentiated the genotypes into two main cluster groups. One cluster represented the C. annuum genotypes while the other cluster represented the C. frutescens and the C. chinense genotypes. C. chinense genotypes were more close to C. frutescens genotypes. Genetic variation between the C. frutescens genotypes was more than among the C. annuum genotypes and the C. chinense genotypes were the least similar ones.