Abstract:

In this study, RAPD markers were used to analyze genetic relationships of 51 red-seed edible seed watermelon accessions. Twelve primers with excellent reproducibility and 80 bands were obtained totally, 74 of these were polymorphism bands, and the polymorphism rate was 92.50%. The genetic similarity coefficients were between 0.41 and 0.99, which indicated that RAPD markers could reveal the higher genetic diversity of these tested materials. The systematical cluster analysis conducted with UPGMA showed that 51 accessions were grouped into 8 clusters at coefficients 0.812. Principal component analysis showed that 3 principal constituents contribute 44.54% of cumulative variance, in accord with systematical cluster analysis. This study revealed that there was not significant relationship between these germplasm and source place.