Genetic diversity was estimated in 13 accessions of the otherwise self pollinated Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. (velvetbean) comprising varieties pruriens and utilis collected from tropical humid forest using 15 RAPD primers. Similarity index value of 0.68 based on Nei and Li's similarity coefficient indicated high degree of genetic variability. Analysis of various genetic diversity indices like total heterozygosity, Nei's gene diversity, percentage of polymorphic loci, expected and observed number of alleles and Shannon index strongly suggests that variety pruriens is genetically more diverse than variety utilis. Chemical analysis with respect to 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (L-DOPA) content showed uniform distribution. Cluster analysis showed grouping of accessions into two major clusters and tendency of accessions of variety pruriens to group according to their geographical locations. Bootstrap analysis confirmed the robustness of the phenogram. The putative hybrid MMP6 with relatively low similarity value index and low L-DOPA content was promising as food or fodder.

A diverse germplasm of Musa acuminata ssp. burmannica exists in southern Western Ghats as a possible repository of useful resistant traits, which can be effectively utilized for crop improvement.

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Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to assess the genetic diversity of 14 individuals belonging to 7 populations of Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr. (Menispermaceae). 18 decamer primers used for the analysis generated 99 scorable bands of which 79 were found to be polymorphic. Coefficient of similarity ranged from 0.6604 to 0.9809. Variation within population was slightly higher than between populations. Similarity between individuals within and between populations was found. Dendrogram was obtained by using unwieghed pair-group method analysis (UPGMA). Distinct accession also exhibited higher percentage of medicinally active compound.

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