Bulk Line Analysis in Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) for Inferring Relationship between Talls, Dwarfs and Niu Leka Dwarf Forms

Abstract

Coconut is an important an oil crop of India. Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is botanically classified in to two major
groups based on its stature as Tall palms and as Dwarf palms. The Talls can also be referred to as var. Typica (Nav)
and the Dwarfs as var. Nana (Griff). Further, intermediate forms of coconut referred to as Aurantiaca are also available.
The technique Bulk Line analysis is employed for the identification of tall / dwarf bulk specific RAPD marker.
Thirty random primers were used to amplify the DNA bulks of talls, dwarfs and intermediate coconut types. Out
of 30 primers 22 primers showed polymorphism between the DNA bulks. The primers OPM 02, OPM 06, OPC
13 produced specific markers. Out of 40 polymorphic markers five markers were common to tall bulk and dwarf
bulk; on the other hand 29 markers were common between the tall bulk and Niu Leka Dwarf. To reveal the overall
relationship between the bulked samples presence or absence of RAPD marker data were analysed with the NTSYS
software. Jaccard’s similarity coefficient was highest between talls and Niu Leka Dwarf. The resultant dendrogram
showed clustering of talls and Niu Leka types together whereas, dwarf types were separated out.