Genetic diversity of Iranian onion genotypes using RAPD marker

Plant breeding programs are based on variation and selection of high quality and quantity characters. Evaluation of genetic materials is the first step in every breeding program. The use of new methods of genetic variation studies are very necessary, in order to select the hybrid parents and determination of genotypes relationship. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) molecular marker has been already used to determine genetic diversity. In this study RAPD marker was used to verify genetic diversity between 13 Iranian onion genotypes in comparison to two American ones. The data were subjected to statistical analysis, using NTSYS, ver. 2.02 software based on similarity coefficient matrix with UPGMA method. The cophenetic coefficient between similarity matrix and the resulted dendrogram was r = 0.87. The result showed that the analyzed genotypes had a genetic similarity rate of 94% for Sephid Ghom and Yazd. Whereas, kasha and padook with 30% were ranked in an another group respectively as far as similarities are concerned. So, Texas Early Grano and Khomain are in the same group with similar coefficient of 80%. Yellow Sweet Spanish and Yasouj are also in the same group too. In the view, it seems to be that, there are similarities, indicating the ancestors are from the southwest Asia, Iran.