Assessment of genetic diversity of Indigofera pulchella in Himachal Pradesh using isozyme markers

Abstract

Indigofera pulchella, a well known medicinal plant, has recently gained the attention of floriculturists due to its bright violet flowers. For efficient conservation and management of medicinal plant diversity, the genetic composition of species collected from different phyto-geographical areas need to be assessed. Isozyme analysis was conducted for the purpose and nine enzyme systems were investigated for 30 Indigofera genotypes collected from ten sites in five districts of Himachal Pradesh. The five enzyme markers, viz. PER I, CAT I, MDH I, ADH Ib and PPH I at RM values 0.60, 0.30, 0.50, 0.58 and 0.45 respectively, successfully demarcated the six sites of Mandi, Hamirpur and Bilaspur districts from four sites of Solan and Sirmour districts. Seven enzyme systems were found to be polymorphic, whereas two enzymes systems were monomorphic. Allele frequency in the present study ranged from 0.5 to 1.0. Polymorphism in the selected Indigofera genotype was estimated to be 30 per cent.