Utpala Parthasarathy

Comparative effectiveness of inter-simple sequence repeat and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA markers to study genetic diversity of Indian Garcinia

A study to compare the effectiveness of inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiling was carried out with a total of 65 DNA samples using 12 species of Indian Garcinia . ISSR and RAPD profiling were performed with 19 and 12 primers, respectively. ISSR markers generated a total number of 156 bands with 92 polymorphic bands, while RAPD markers produced a total of 134 bands with 80 polymorphic bands. Percentage of polymorphic loci in RAPD profiling was 60.4% while in ISSR profiling, it was 59.3%. Heterogeneity index was similar for the markers, 0.86 for ISSR and 0.89 for RAPD, indicating that both the marker systems are effective in determining polymorphism in Garcinia . ISSR markers showed clear distinction among the species whereas RAPD markers showed segregation based on geographical location as well as species based. Key words : Garcinia , genetic diversity, inter-simple sequence repeats, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA, principal component analysis.

Prediction of Crop Suitability of Certain Indian Spices – A GIS Approach

GIS technology is a computer-based data collection, storage, and analysis tool that combines previously unrelated information into easily understood maps. GIS can perform complicated analytical functions and then present the results visually as maps, tables or graphs. This allows decision-makers to virtually see the issues before them and then select the best course of action. The database prepared from existing field survey can be compiled using digital map for monitoring the availability of the species in the unknown locations through Ecocrop model of DIVA GIS. The spatial analysis thus helps in choosing the best location for the crop depending on the environmental parameters. The plotting of Piper species and Garcinia species collected from Western Ghats gave information of the species richness sites as well as the diversity of the species. Based on these results the prediction of the distribution of piper species and Garcinia species in North Eastern India was done and confirmed the availability with survey. The climatic parameters, important for crop suitability, The studies indicated that area under the natural habitat or the cultivation of the crop has a positive relation with the environmental suitability.